In the heart of Karachi lies Civil Hospital, the largest tertiary health care facility. The number of people approaching Civil Hospital daily runs in thousands. Most of these people belong to low socio-economic class, not capable of affording two decent meals a day, let alone bear the burden of basic medical facilities.

The dismal situation was realized by three students of Dow Medical College and their struggle for better health facilities for the poor patients of Civil Hospital, led to the foundation of Patients’ Welfare Association (PWA) in 1979. The grim reality that death of patients because of lack of money for treatment is an almost daily occurrence in a society that lacked the resources to provide them with the necessary health care, left their conscientious minds with no choice but to start this project.