The destitute family of a sick Pakistani breadwinner here has appealed for help to pay a total of SR 53,000 in medical treatment and fines for the late renewal of their residency permits.

Mechanic Amin ur-Rahman, 62, is currently bedridden in a Jeddah hospital with poor vision and a physical disability caused by diabetes. He has not renewed his iqama for three years, which means that his wife, three sons and a daughter are illegal residents.

A leading city hospital has said he needs an eye operation costing SR 37,000. The renewal of the iqamas and payment of fines will cost SR 16,000.

Amin ur-Rahman, who hails from Malakand Division in Pakistan, ran an auto repair workshop in the Bani Malik area. Two years ago, his diabetes started wreaking havoc on his health.

This also affected his business. Even though his children tried to help fix cars by leaving school, he eventually lost all his customers and the shop had to close.

The diabetes forced doctors to amputate part of his left leg. His kidneys also failed to function properly, according to his wife Farhat. He is now unable to speak and move around properly from his bed at King Abdul Aziz University hospital in Jeddah.