RAWALPINDI, September 10: Al-Mustafa Trust said around 1.8 million patients received healthcare services through its nationwide network during the past year as the organisation highlighted the expansion of its free primary healthcare programme at its annual fund-raising function in Rawalpindi.
The event was held at Galaxy Hall, Topi Rakh, and attended by around 300 guests, including trustees, donors, philanthropists and supporters of the organisation.
Speaking on the occasion, Al-Mustafa Trust Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Mustafa Khan (Retd) said the organisation had entered its 29th year of operations after being founded on September 5, 1998.
He said the Trust began with a small dispensary and had since expanded into a nationwide network of 53 medical centres, dispensaries and mobile dispensaries serving 102 locations in rural and urban areas of Pakistan.
According to the chairman, approximately 1.8 million patients received healthcare through the Trust’s network during the previous year.
He said the expansion of free primary healthcare services had helped ease pressure on public-sector tertiary healthcare facilities.
Lt Gen Mustafa Khan said the organisation’s annual expenditure had risen to around Rs677 million, reflecting the scale of its operations and growing healthcare network.
He credited the Trust’s progress to financial support from donors and philanthropists as well as the work of volunteer trustees and management members.
Earlier, the programme opened with recitation from the Holy Quran by Col Zafar Ali Sufi, followed by a Naat by Muhammad Naeem Mirza.
A documentary highlighting the Trust’s activities and development since its establishment was also screened for participants.
Founder and Patron Lt Gen Ghulam Muhammad Malik (Retd), who established the Trust in 1998, also addressed the gathering and appreciated the efforts of the Board of Management and Board of Directors.
He said the Trust had continued to expand over the years and expressed hope that it would further strengthen its healthcare services for underserved communities.
During the event, Master of Ceremonies Brig Muhammad Sarfraz (Retd) appealed to participants to contribute towards the organisation’s healthcare activities.
The fund-raising appeal focused on supporting the Trust’s medical centres, dispensaries and mobile healthcare services operating in different parts of the country.
The organisers said the annual event was aimed at mobilising financial support for the continuation and expansion of free healthcare services for low-income and underserved communities across Pakistan.
The gathering concluded with a vote of thanks to donors, organisers, trustees and supporters of Al-Mustafa Trust.