Army chief visits soldiers who lost eyesight during Zarb-e-Azb

To date, 179 soldiers have lost their complete or partial eyesight due to IED blasts

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheef Sharif met on Wednesday wounded soldiers of Pakistan Army who lost their eyesight due to IED blasts during the continuing Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

During his visit to to the Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO), General Raheel paid tribute to their sacrifice and valour, saying, “We never give up and never quit".

To date, as many as 179 soldiers have lost their complete or partial eyesight due to IED blasts," said an ISPR statement.

COAS with brave soldiers,who lost their eyesight due IED blasts in Op Z-e-A to help us realise Quaid's vision of Pak pic.twitter.com/oTel7OTeKk

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) May 25, 2016

"At present, 56 valiant soldiers are undergoing treatment in the AFIO, 30 of whom have lost both their eyes."



During his visit, the COAS was given a detailed briefing on the pilot project of state-of-the-art Visual Rehabilitation Center for visually-disabled soldiers, which includes a computer lab, Braille, vocational and recreational facilities.

He was informed that all efforts were being made for the complete treatment of patients whose eyesight could be restored.



General Raheel instructed the authorities concerned to provide the best possible medical treatment to the national heroes who "sacrificed their eyesight to help realise Quaid’s vision of Pakistan".

He also appreciated the standard of treatment and medical care  being extended by the team of doctors and paramedics at the AFIO.