About US

Profile of Birth Defects Foundation (BDF)

Legal Registration and Recognition

The Birth Defects Foundation (BDF) was officially registered in 2017 under the Societies Act of 1860. Following its registration, it was also recognized by the Charity Commission and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as a legitimate nonprofit organization.

Mission and Focus Areas

BDF is dedicated to the treatment and surgical care of children with more than 18 types of congenital anomalies, with a special emphasis on:

Congenital Conditions and Their Prevention

Intersex Conditions
Atypical development of sexual characteristics present at birth.
Cleft Lip and Palate
Congenital gaps or openings in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth.
Meningocele / Myelomeningocele
Birth defects involving the spinal cord and vertebrae, often referred to as spina bifida.
Hydrocephalus
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain at or after birth, causing head enlargement.
Intestinal Atresia
Congenital blockage or absence of a portion of the intestine.
Hirschsprung’s Disease
A birth defect where nerve cells are missing in the bowel, leading to intestinal obstruction.
Meconium Ileus
Blockage of the intestine caused by thick meconium, often linked to cystic fibrosis.
Imperforate Anus
Absence or improper development of the anal opening in newborns.
Inguinal Hernia and Hydrocele
Swelling or bulging in the groin area, often due to fluid or intestine pushing through.

Hypospadias
A condition where the opening of the urethra is not located at the tip of the penis.
Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism)
One or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum before birth.
Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus)
A birth defect where one or both feet are twisted out of shape or position.
Acute Appendicitis in Children
Inflammation of the appendix requiring prompt medical attention.
Burn Injuries in Children
Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for pediatric burn cases.
Neonatal Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin and eyes in newborns due to high bilirubin levels.
Vomiting in Neonates
Causes and management of persistent vomiting in newborns.
Rectal Bleeding in Children
Identification and treatment of bleeding from the rectum in pediatric patients.
Neonatal Tetanus
A serious bacterial infection causing muscle stiffness and spasms in newborns.

Children with ambiguous genitalia
Transgender individuals requiring medical intervention
Lifelong care for patients with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

Lifelong Support for CAH Patients

CAH patients require two essential medications — Hydrocortisone and Fludrocortisone — for their entire lives. BDF proudly provides these medications 100% free of charge, regardless of the family’s financial background.

“Care Foundation USA provides comprehensive virtual outpatient consultations for CAH patients of the Birth Defects Foundation, assisting with medication dose adjustments directly from the USA.”

National Network of Centers

BDF currently operates five fully functional centers across Pakistan:

Two centers in Lahore
One each in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Bahawalpur

To address the research gap on CAH, BDF established Pakistan’s first dedicated CAH Research Center in Bahawalpur.

Breakthrough Medical and Surgical Services – Completely Free for Everyone

Over 18,500 surgeries(Till November 2025) performed for children born with cleft lips and palates
More than 371 gender-affirming or corrective surgeries(Till November,2025) conducted for children with ambiguous genitalia
Monthly support to over 300 families for free access to essential CAH medications

Free Outpatient Services

BDF offers completely free General OPD services across all its centers, including:

Medical consultations
Prescription medications
Ultrasound diagnostics

To date, BDF has served:

Over 800,000 patients through its general OPD
More than 12,000 free ultrasounds (Till November,2025)

Transgender Counseling

No consultation fees or charges are ever collected at any stage.

Rehabilitation & Empowerment Project

To promote long-term independence, BDF has launched an inclusive “Rehabilitation and Empowerment” initiative. This program trains:

Intersex and transgender individuals
Children with cleft conditions
Orphans
General public

Training Areas Include:

Social media management
Graphic design and video editing
Web development
Digital skills for self-employment

Participants are not only trained but also supported in launching their own businesses — empowering them to become entrepreneurs and leaders.

Educational Advocacy and Curriculum Development

Recognizing the lack of medical education on intersex health and gender dysphoria, BDF — with support from its Advisory Board — has designed a specialized academic course. This course has been presented to:

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC)

The aim is to integrate this course into BS/MS level university curricula, cultivating a new generation of informed, empathetic healthcare providers equipped to serve marginalized communities.

Understanding the Difference Between Transgender and Intersex – Birth Defects Foundation

There is often confusion between transgender individuals and intersex (khunsa) children, though both are entirely different in nature, cause, and treatment.

Intersex (Khunsa):
These are children born with ambiguous genitalia or unclear sexual characteristics due to a birth defect. Such cases are medically treatable. Through proper diagnosis and corrective surgery, their biological sex — granted by Allah at birth — can be clarified. Islam allows and supports such medical correction to help the child live a normal life.

Transgender:
A transgender person, on the other hand, is someone who psychologically feels that their gender identity differs from their biological sex. This is recognized as a psychological condition (Gender Dysphoria), not a physical defect. Islam does not permit surgical alteration of one’s gender, as it involves changing the natural creation of Allah. The appropriate treatment is psychological counseling and rehabilitation, not surgery.

At Birth Defects Foundation (BDF), both medical correction for intersex children and psychological guidance for transgender individuals are provided

Birth Defect Foundation Achievements

423

Intersex surgeries

465

Transgender Counseling

18534

Cleft and palate surgeries

17879

Lifetime Medicine

937421

General opd

Bridging Nations for a Brighter Future Consul General of Japan Mr. ISOMURA TOSHIKAZU in Karachi Addresses the Grand Opening Of Birth Defects Foundation’s Karachi e-health Centre .

We were honored to welcome Dr. Claire Pamment (USA) to the Birth Defects Foundation, where she visited our facilities and appreciated our ongoing efforts for children born with congenital anomalies.

Representatives from the Embassy of Japan visited the Rawalpindi Center of the Birth Defects Foundation, appreciating our initiatives for the treatment and rehabilitation of children with congenital anomalies

Renowned women’s organization Inner Wheel based in the UK (Manchester), boasts a global presence with more than 190 branches across different countries. Our dedicated team at Inner Wheel is committed to providing support to Birth Defects Foundation. We are proud to select Birth Defects Foundation as our designated partner for the 2023-24 term, Inner Wheel’s Pakistan chapter dedicated its support to Birth Defects Foundation and received an award for championing this unique cause. BDF representatives Mrs. Nooreen Ansar and Miss Furqan joined the Inner Wheel team in celebrating this achievement.

Professor Dr. Afzal Sheikh, Chief Surgeon of the Birth Defect Foundation, examining children with ambiguous genitalia during the weekly OPD.

In the weekly OPD for children with ambiguous genitalia, families wait for their turn with hope and patience. The Birth Defect Foundation provides this OPD service completely free of cost — offering equal care and treatment to every patient, regardless of their financial status, whether rich or poor.

Professor Dr. Afzal Sheikh –Chief Surgeon of Birth Defects Foundation A True Deserving Recipient of the Pride of Performance Award is a remarkable humanitarian and medical professional who has successfully performed thousands of cleft lip and palate surgeries. Every surgery at the Foundation — especially those conducted purely on a charity basis — has been performed under his skilled hands and dedicated supervision. Dr. Afzal Sheikh’s tireless efforts and unmatched commitment to serving children born with facial deformities are a shining example of compassion, excellence, and service to humanity. On behalf of Birth Defects Foundation and Chairman Ansar Javaíd, we earnestly appeal to the Government of Pakistan to recognize his extraordinary services by honouring him with the “Pride of Performance Award.”

Group photo of children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH 46XX), a condition affecting mostly girls (about 97%). These children underwent successful surgeries supported entirely through charity by generous donors. They require lifelong medication — Fludrocortisone and Hydrocortisone — which are also provided to them completely free of cost by the Birth Defect Foundation.

After successfully conducting the seminar at Fountain House, Lahore, which was hosted by the Akhwet Foundation, the focus of the seminar was “How We Can Support the Transgender Community.” The speakers included Chairman Ansar Javaid and Dr. Liaqat Ali Mirza, an Endocrinologist from the Birth Defects Foundation, along with Uzma, the Director of Akhwet Foundation, who gathered with members of the transgender community for a group photo.

Empowering Change Chairman Ansar Javaid Addresses Audience at Governor House, Accompanied by the Governor of Punjab, Ch, Mohammad Sarwar

The Governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, met Mr. Ansar Javaid, Chairman of Birth Defects Foundation, and commended the organization’s dedication to improving child health, awareness, and rehabilitation for children with birth defects.

Strengthening Commitments Federal Finance Minister Mr. Shuakat Tareen Joins Chairman Ansar Javaid of BDF & TRWS to Pledge Sponsorship of Two Centers in Honor of Our Beloved Parents

Assembly of God Church, Youhanabad, Lahore,Pakistan to deliver an important awareness session on the difference between transgender and intersex individuals. The Chairman of the Birth Defects Foundation addressed the congregation, highlighting the importance of understanding, acceptance, and equal medical care for every human being—regardless of gender, color, race, or religion. It is worth mentioning that the Foundation has previously conducted similar awareness sessions at Koy Luke Path Church and various other churches, continuing its mission to educate and support communities across Pakistan.

Collaborative Efforts for Healthcare Provincial Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, at united Christian hospital, host by Birth Defects foundation

“Director General Research, Dr. Inam Ullah, Council of Islamic Ideology, Islamabad,Pakistan with Ansar Javaid, Chairman of Birth Different Foundation, Noreen Ansar, Vice Chairperson, and Tahira Jaweed Chaudhry, Head of Department, Health Center, in a group photo at the Council office.”

A meeting was held with the former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Honourable Mr. Justice Saqib Nisar, and his esteemed spouse, wherein Mr. Ansar Javaid, Chairman of the Birth Defects Foundation, and the Vice Chairperson Noreen Ansar of the organization were present, engaging in a thoughtful and inspiring group interaction.”

Renowned religious scholar Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Malik is praying after performing the Nikah ceremony of Ansar Javed, Chairman of Birth Defects Foundation. Prime Minister Imran Khan is sitting with Ansar Javed. The ceremony was performed at the mosque of Khalid Masjid Cavalry. This