Two Pakistan Army soldiers who had lost their eyesight during anti-terror operations have regained their vision following a cornea transplant made possible by a donation from the late Wasima Askari, wife of Major General (retd) Syed Zafar Mehdi Askari.
The transplant procedures were successfully carried out at the Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO) in Rawalpindi, using corneal tissue donated after Mrs. Askari’s passing on October 3, 2025.
The recipients, Ali (30) and Falak Sher (26), had both been blinded due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. The complex surgeries were performed by AFIO’s team of expert surgeons, marking a historic medical milestone — the first successful cornea transplant in Pakistan using a donation from a local woman.
The operation not only restored the soldiers’ sight but also served as a moving testament to Mrs. Askari’s legacy of service and compassion.
Zahra Mehdi, the daughter of the late donor, expressed profound pride in her mother’s final act of generosity:
“The greatest honor is knowing that my mother’s eyes were donated to two brave soldiers, bringing light back into their lives. This act is a form of ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah).”
AFIO, a premier medical institution dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers, hailed the achievement as a moment of national pride. The humanitarian and professional dedication of its medical team has been widely commended for turning this extraordinary act of sacrifice into a symbol of hope and healing.
