ENGR AKRAM LODHI – A BLIND MAN BEHIND THE VISION
ENGR AKRAM LODHI
It is not what is stolen that characterizes some of our lives but what they choose to give back, the life of Engr. AkramLodhi is a singular story of perseverance, hope and mission, where the darkness in his own life illuminated the lives of many children.
In 1990, he graduated in Mechanical Engineering, and he entered life like any other young engineer, with ambition and dreams. But fate had other plans. Shortly after, he was found to be having Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) a blindness in the eyes that have no cure, and without treatment, the blindness slowly develops to a full-fledged blindness.
The globe faded gradually away. The future that he had dreamt about was remote. Blindness was a dreadful acceptance with a lot of emotional conflict and doubt. But he gained strength in faith of Almighty Allah. He did not want to give up but to make light to others.
“And this is not my limitation because I am blind. My duty is to make sure that other children do not have to languish in darkness.”
This was what he made his life mission. He established the WAK eye hospital in Karachi- the first night blindness eradication centre in Pakistan, which is under the non-profit making vision foundation house. His purpose was obvious: to offer free eye treatment and save deprived children under the threat of being blind.
The hospital is dedicated to the early detection, prevention and treatment of eye diseases particularly night blindness. It offers free OPD, treatment support and medical care to families that are unable to afford specialized healthcare.
Children that used to fear the night are now able to walk without fear, go to school, and play. Their vision being healed symbolizes much more than health accomplishment, it symbolizes dignity, freedom, and childhood happiness.
Milestones of His Journey
- UET Lahore (1990) Graduated Mechanical Engineer.
- Diagnosis Retinitis Pigmentosa resulting in vision loss.
- Personal tragedy made a humanitarian mission.
- Established WAK Eye Hospital in Karachi.
- It opened the first Night Blindness Eradication Centre in Pakistan.
- Provided free eye care to the less privileged.
- Awareness on preventable blindness was promoted.
- Motivated social and charitable services to eye healthcare.
Impact in Numbers
- Hundreds of night blind children treated.
- Free diagnostic and OPD care to the needy families.
- globe The rural and remote communities served by patients.
- Eliminate lifelong blindness: Pay attention to the early diagnosis.
- Community connections to prevent blindness.
But his cause is not in numbers. It is concerning giving hope back to families that lost theirs. It is concerned with the demonstration that real sight is vision and not an eye. He was a bright light to many even when he had no sight.
He thinks that this mission cannot be achieved single handedly. Blindness in children is preventable and it needs to be done by all. That is the reason why he calls philanthropists, businesses, youth, and communities to come together. A child can get a future saved by support in terms of donations, volunteering, partnerships, or awareness.
Wak eye Hospital is a symbol of strength and empathy today. Families find relief there. Children find light. The power of faith is transformed to action in the eyes of the society.
In the story of Engr. AkramLodhi, an important lesson has been taught; vision is not about seeing, but it is about being bold, believing, and serving human beings.
And through the united efforts of people, we can build a future where no child must endure living in darkness and where all children will be raised in the hope of a bright future.