The Sindh Education Department has launched a province-wide initiative to provide free eye screenings and glasses to students in government schools, aiming to tackle the growing impact of mobile phone use on children’s vision.
A formal directive has been sent to all districts, instructing school heads to fully cooperate with the programme, which is being implemented through a non-governmental organisation (NGO) granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
According to department officials, all government school students will undergo eye examinations, and those identified with vision issues will receive free corrective glasses. The initiative seeks to ensure early detection of problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, which can significantly affect academic performance and long-term eye health.
Chief Advisor of the Curriculum Wing, Dr Fouzia Khan, underscored the urgency of the matter, noting that prolonged mobile phone use is increasingly damaging children’s eyesight. She called on school leaders to prioritize cooperation to prevent long-term vision loss among students.
Experts have long warned that many children, especially in underprivileged areas, remain undiagnosed due to financial constraints and limited access to eye care services. Health professionals and NGOs have repeatedly urged the government to make routine eye screenings mandatory at school admissions.
This province-wide programme is being hailed as a significant public health measure, expected to improve not only children’s well-being but also their learning outcomes and quality of life.
