RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday paid richest tribute to the sacrifice and valor of soldiers of anti-terrorism military operation Zarb-e-Azb.
“We never give up and never quit,” the COAS said in reference to fight against terrorism when he visited Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday and met wounded warriors of operation Zarb-e-Azb.
A total of 179 soldiers have lost their complete or partial eye sight due to improvised explosive device (IED) blasts till date. At present 56 valiant sons of soil are undergoing treatment in the Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, 30 out of them have lost their both eyes.
The COAS spent time with them and inquired their well-being, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
During his visit to AFIO, the army chief was given a detailed briefing on pilot project of state of the art Visual Rehabilitation Center for visually disabled soldiers which includes computer / IT Lab, Braille, vocational and recreational facilities.
The army chief was briefed that all efforts are being made to retrieve eye sight of few injured soldiers who are in curable zone.
General Raheel Sharif instructed all concerned to leave no stone unturned to provide best medical treatment to these national heroes who have sacrificed their eyesight to help realize Quaid’s vision of Pakistan.
The COAS appreciated the standard of treatment and medical care being extended by dedicated team of doctors and paramedical staff at AFIO.
Earlier on his arrival, the COAS was received by the Adjutant General Lieutenant General Anwar Ali Haider and Surgeon General Pakistan army Lieutenant General Syed Muhammad Imran Majeed.
