Mukhad is a Pashto word which means ‘my sloping and rocky hilly area”. (Charles C. Trench,“The Frontier Scouts, p284) Another tradition holds that Makhad may be localized form of “Mashhad” (Arabic) which literally means having lots of graves and masoleums and in fact, Makhad has plenty of them. Ancient Makhad was located on a hill named “Makhad Ser” which is on the western side of river Indus in front of the present day location on the other side (Eastern) of river Indus. The ruins of the old city still exist and are known as “Zara Mukhad” which means old Mukhad. During the British era a steamer by the name of “Indus Flotila” used to carry goods and cargo between Rohri (Sind) and Mukhad.This mode of trnsportation was later replaced by the arrival of Railways
Free Eye Camp:
At the time of the establishment of AHWS in 1981, the need was felt that since the population of Mukhad Sharif and its vast surroundings are poor and backward, for any major kind of treatment it needs to reach the hospitals of Rawalpindi, Islamabad or Taxila, which are about 200 km away. Treatment was almost impossible for such communities. In this state of desperation and helplessness, AHWS started organizing ‘Free Eye Camp’ on annual basis in Ziarat Sharif building attached to its head office in Makhad Sharif. The first camp was held in1983. Patients were examined in this camp from April 1 to May 4, 1983. Patients were operated from May 5 to June 5. A total of 1200 patients were examined in this camp. While 102 patients were operated. In this first camp, Dr. Asghar Hameed Qureshi, Dr. Rashid Ahmed and Dr. Bukhari along with their assisting-staff performed their services. Since the first camp, this camp is being held on annual basis, but few times the camp has been organized twice a year.
Till 2023, the camp has been organized 44 times continuously. Renowned ophthalmologists (eye specialist doctors) of the country have served in this camp. In the camp, all patients are examined, treated and operated free of cost. Free medicines are also provided from the camp. In view of modern requirements, operations are performed with modern phaco machine from 2014. The operation is done with the help of laser technology and lenses are used, so that patients do not need spectacles. The number of patients operated according to the record of AHWS estimated to be more than 10,000 by 2023. While the number of treated patients suffering from general eye diseases is more or less 22 thousand
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