However, when his business associate in Ludhiana heard about his problem, he invited him to undergo cornea transplant surgery in Ludhiana. And today, 43-year-old Akbar is a happy man, thanks to the vision provided to him by a resident of Jalandhar.

“If my vision has been restored today and am able to get back to work, it is because of an Indian. This is a token of our love towards each other. It means that we can see better when we see through each other’s eyes,” he said, overwhelmed over the gesture of Makhmal who had died in a road accident recently and had pledged her eyes after death.

“I had already lost my left eye to an injury 18 years ago and about three months ago another injury left me completely blind,” he said, adding there was no possible cornea treatment available in Pakistan as easily it is in India. “There is no cornea available for transplant since people do not donate eyes back home. Consequently, the doctors are also not experienced enough,” he said.

Akbar underwent cornea transplant around 10 days ago after the eyes of Jalandhar resident, Makhmal, who had died in a road accident on January 29, were received by Punarjot Eye Bank Society. “She had promised to donate her eyes and I fulfilled her wish by contacting the society,” said Pankaj, the donor’s son.