Graham Layton (died 1999) was a British businessman and philanthropist, best known as the co-founder of the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT), Pakistan's largest provider of free eye care.
Biography and Philanthropy Graham Layton was a successful British businessman who spent a significant part of his life in Pakistan. Deeply moved by the plight of the visually impaired and the lack of accessible, affordable eye care for the poor in the country, he co-founded the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) in 1985. His co-founder was his Pakistani friend and business partner, Rahmatulla Khan.
The inspiration for LRBT arose from a personal experience when Khan's gardener suffered from preventable blindness. This incident highlighted the dire need for charitable eye care services. Layton and Khan pooled their resources and dedicated themselves to establishing an organization that would provide free treatment for curable blindness and other eye ailments to the underprivileged population of Pakistan.
Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) The LRBT began with a single mobile eye camp and has since grown into a massive network of hospitals and eye centers across Pakistan, offering free treatment to millions of patients annually. Its mission is to prevent and cure blindness and other eye diseases, thereby restoring sight and improving the quality of life for the poor. The Trust is entirely funded by donations and operates on a non-discriminatory basis, serving people regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or financial status.
Legacy Graham Layton's vision and philanthropic efforts, alongside Rahmatulla Khan, laid the foundation for an organization that has become a beacon of hope for countless individuals. Although he passed away in 1999, his legacy continues through the LRBT, which remains committed to its founding principle of providing free and quality eye care to those who cannot afford it, making a profound and lasting impact on public health in Pakistan. The Graham Layton Trust, based in the UK, also continues to support the LRBT's operations.
See Also
- Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT)
- Philanthropy
References
- LRBT Official Website
- The Graham Layton Trust Website