KARACHI, Feb 22: The Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust achieved another milestone on Thursday with the expansion of its Korangi hospital.

The second floor of the hospital built with the support of Ms Khursheed Bhaimia will house an extended paediatric wing, a bigger operation theatre complex (18 operation tables), low vision area, auditorium and library. Sight Savers International – UK, Pakistan office donated more than Rs.5.2 million towards the equipment cost.

A seven-year-old boy, Sameer, who was treated for bilateral cataract at the hospital, performed the inauguration at Ms Bhaimia’s request.

Addressing the gathering, Vice Chairman and CEO LRBT N.Saquib Hameed, thanked the donors for their support. He said the new facility had the capacity to treat more than 1,000 patients daily.

Chairman LRBT Khawaja Zafar Hassan talked about the 20-year-long journey of the trust and the steady help it had received over the years from philanthropists.

Since its inception in 1985, the LRBT has treated over 12 million patients in its OPDs and performed over 1.2 million surgeries, all completely free.

In the last fiscal year LRBT treated 1.3 million patients in its OPDs and performed over 148,000 surgeries. Major expansions have been completed at Gambat, Lar (near Multan), Akora Khattak, and now Karachi. Future expansions are planned at Lahore, Khanewal, Tando Bago and Tando Adam.—By Our Reporter