LRBT

What LRBT does

LRBT (Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust) is Pakistan's largest charitable eye-care provider, founded in 1984 by Graham Layton and Zaka Rahmatulla with an initial capitalization of Rs. 1 million. The organization operates an integrated delivery network of 20 purpose-built hospitals (3 tertiary teaching hospitals and 17 secondary hospitals) plus 64 primary eye care clinics spanning all four Pakistani provinces — Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Service scope runs from basic refraction and school screening through to advanced vitreoretinal surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, and corneal transplantation, delivered with $6.8 million of imported ophthalmic equipment from the US, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. Through the year ending June 2025, LRBT treated 3.3 million outpatients and performed 327,000 surgeries, taking cumulative volumes past 62 million patients and 6 million surgeries since inception.

The technology stack is anchored on imported medical hardware rather than proprietary software: 45 phacoemulsification machines, 11 Constellation Vision Systems, Optical Coherence Tomography, Heidelberg Retinal Tomography, and the Spectral Domain OCT (first installed in Pakistan at Korangi Hospital). Clinical training infrastructure is recognized by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, Pakistan Medical & Dental Council, Sindh Medical Faculty, and the UK General Medical Council, with 61 doctors currently in fellowship or membership programmes and 89 students enrolled annually in diploma and certificate courses through the School of Paramedicine. Supporting programmes include the Cornea Bank (sourced primarily through AAPNA from the USA to address Pakistan's corneal tissue shortage), the Eye Care Plus mental health counseling service for chronic disease patients, and the school screening programme operating in urban and rural schools for over 15 years.

LRBT is funded entirely through donations, Zakat (Islamic almsgiving), Sadqah, endowments, and surgery sponsorships — all treatment is provided free of cost to verified mustaheq (deserving) patients. The organization is a registered charity with Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy certification (valid through December 2027), is 100% Shariah compliant with an onboard Shariah Advisor, and is a partner of the Clinton Global Initiative. International fundraising chapters operate in the UK, USA, and Canada to capture diaspora donations. The Board of Trustees is drawn from senior Pakistani corporate, banking, and government figures, including a former State Bank of Pakistan Governor and former Federal Minister.

Name

LRBT

Legal name

Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust

Website

https://lrbt.org.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

LRBT (Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust) is Pakistan's largest charitable eye-care provider, operating 20 hospitals and 64 primary clinics across all four provinces to deliver free ophthalmic treatment to the underprivileged.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Hospitals (8060)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB), Ophthalmic Specialty Hospitals (HLAFAHAJ)

Keywords

• Free eye care
• Ophthalmology services
• Charitable hospital network
• Pediatric eye care
• Corneal transplantation

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Zakat: LRBT relies entirely on donations, Zakat (Islamic almsgiving at 2.5% of surplus wealth), and Sadqah (voluntary charity) from individuals, corporations, and international donors. All treatment is provided free of cost to verified poor patients (mustaheq).
2. Endowment Contributions: Donors can contribute to an endowment fund to dedicate or build spaces in hospitals in their name or their loved ones' names. Various spaces are available for sponsorship at different price points.
3. Surgery Sponsorship: Individual donors can sponsor specific surgeries for patients at various price points ranging from PKR 650 for refraction to PKR 100,700 for retina detachment surgery in children.
4. Cornea Donation Program: Corneas are donated by individuals after death. LRBT acquires corneas primarily from USA through AAPNA who sponsors and donates corneas. This addresses the acute shortage of corneal tissue in Pakistan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

LRBT operates a nationwide charitable network of 20 eye hospitals and 64 clinics across Pakistan's four provinces that delivers free ophthalmic care to underprivileged patients. Its core services include cataract and glaucoma surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, corneal transplantation, and diagnostic screenings, supplemented by mobile eye camps that extend reach into underserved communities.

Product overview

LRBT (Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust) operates as Pakistan's largest free eye care provider, consisting of a unified network of 20 purpose-built hospitals and 64 primary eye care clinics across 4 provinces. The core offering is the Eye Hospitals and Clinics Network, which provides comprehensive eye healthcare services free of charge to underprivileged populations, from basic refraction to advanced corneal transplants and retinal surgery. Supporting this core network are digital donation platforms including an Online Donation System and Zakat Calculator for Islamic charitable contributions. Community-oriented services include the Eye Care Plus Project (mental health support), Cornea Bank, School Screening Program, and the School of Paramedicine for workforce development. International chapters exist in UK, USA, and Canada to facilitate donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Eye-Care Hospital Services
• Satellite Eye Clinics

Quantifiable outcome

• 62 million patients treated over 40 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLRBT is a partner of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the organization founded by former US President Bill Clinton that convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.
• Sight Savers International UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based international organization focused on eye health. Their evaluation report states: 'The Clinical and Technical side of the LRBT programme is extremely impressive'. The overriding conclusions are that LRBT delivers quality eye care services through primary, secondary and tertiary levels in a highly motivated and committed manner.
• AAPNAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAAPNA sponsors and donates corneas to LRBT from USA, addressing the acute shortage of corneal tissue in Pakistan. Over 300,000 people await corneal transplants but there are virtually no corneal donations in the country, making this partnership critical for LRBT's cornea transplant program.
• Shariah Advisor (Mufti Mohammad Ibrahim Isa Darul Uloom-Korangi)coreOthersLRBT has an onboard Shariah Advisor who trains and monitors in-house counselors for verifying Zakat contender eligibility under the 8 categories as laid down in Islam. Patient information is vetted before treatment amount issuance through LRBT Zakat fund. LRBT is 100% Shariah Compliant.
• Government of BalochistanmajorOthersGovernment of Balochistan donated land to LRBT for construction of the Quetta Hospital, which became operational in October 2000 and serves multiple districts in Balochistan.
• Jinnah Sindh Medical UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorangi Hospital is affiliated with Jinnah Sindh Medical University. For MBBS degree program, affiliation is with Jinnah Medical and Dental College. The hospital is recognized by PMDC for House Jobs in Ophthalmology and by CPSP for membership and fellowship examinations.
• College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLRBT is registered with CPSP for postgraduate training in General Ophthalmology, Vitreo-retina Ophthalmology, and Pediatric Ophthalmology at tertiary hospitals. The Lahore hospital is also recognized by CPSP for FCPS-II training and 2nd Fellowship in VR Ophthalmology.
• Sindh Medical FacultymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLRBT is accredited with Sindh Medical Faculty for training programs. The Community Ophthalmology Department monitors the School of Paramedicine which offers certificate courses recognized by Sindh Medical Faculty.
• General Medical Council (GMC) UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLRBT Lahore Hospital is recognized by the General Medical Council (GMC) for MRCS/FRCS Exam preparation, enabling international medical credentials.
• UK based TherapistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrained Doctors and counselors at LRBT for the Eye Care Plus Project which offers therapeutic support to patients with chronic eye diseases.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sightsavers: UK-headquartered international non-profit working on avoidable blindness and disability. Already evaluates LRBT's clinical and technical performance, making it a direct counterpart in the global eye care non-profit ecosystem.
• Orbis International: Global non-profit focused on eye health with the Flying Eye Hospital, tele-ophthalmology training, and country programs. Overlaps with LRBT on mission and training emphasis, but operates via a partnership model rather than directly running a hospital network.

Direct peers

• L V Prasad Eye Institute: Hyderabad-based non-profit eye care institution with a tiered rural-urban service network, training programs, and strong research capabilities. Similar integrated model of clinical care, education, and outreach that LRBT operates.
• Al Basar International Foundation: Saudi Arabia-headquartered non-profit operating eye hospitals across the Muslim world including South Asia. Comparable to LRBT in mission, free-care model, and geographic presence in underserved Muslim-majority populations.
• Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology: Nepal-based non-profit eye hospital known for high-volume cataract surgery, intraocular lens manufacturing, and outreach to underserved populations. Comparable to LRBT in regional South Asia context and mission focus on curable blindness.
• Sankara Nethralaya: Chennai-based non-profit eye hospital offering comprehensive ophthalmic care with a substantial free/subsidized patient base, postgraduate training, and a research footprint. Comparable to LRBT as a non-profit specialty eye care institution with a clinical-training dual mandate.
• Himalayan Cataract Project (CureBlindness): US-headquartered non-profit focused on eradicating curable blindness through partner hospitals in South Asia and Africa. Comparable to LRBT's mission and footprint, and would be a logical referral/coordination counterpart for high-volume cataract and corneal work.
• Aravind Eye Care System: India-based non-profit network of eye hospitals providing free or subsidized eye care at massive scale, with a tiered clinical model and integrated training programs. Closest functional analog to LRBT in mission, operating model, and South Asian context.

Emerging players

• Magrabi Foundation: MENA-based eye care network with charitable outreach programs alongside commercial hospitals. Relevant as a hybrid model showing how non-profit eye care can co-exist with sustainable revenue in emerging markets.

Regional players

• Layton Rehmatulla Benevolent Trust (UK): UK chapter of LRBT itself, focused on diaspora fundraising rather than service delivery. Listed as a structural counterpart given its role as the international fundraising arm of the same organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LRBTPK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9qDP6-oWQFb4BeOUDjdJrQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lrbt.Pakistan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lrbtpakistan/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/lrbt_pakistan

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LRBT