LAHORE, May 08 (APP):Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said on Friday that thalassemia was a serious hereditary disease, with around 5,000 new patients being registered every year in Pakistan. He was addressing a special awareness seminar organised in connection with World Thalassemia Day at the Punjab Assembly by Sundas Foundation, where he attended as the chief guest. The seminar focused on prevention of thalassemia, improved patient care and …
Thalassemia serious disease, 5,000 new cases reported annually: PA speaker
LAHORE, May 08 (APP):Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said on Friday that thalassemia was a serious hereditary disease, with around 5,000 new patients being registered every year in Pakistan.
He was addressing a special awareness seminar organised in connection with World Thalassemia Day at the Punjab Assembly by Sundas Foundation, where he attended as the chief guest.
The seminar focused on prevention of thalassemia, improved patient care and raising public awareness. It was attended by Founder and President Sundas Foundation Muhammad Yaseen Khan, Director Khalid Abbas Dar, members of the Provincial Assembly, doctors, social workers and people from different walks of life.
The speaker said Pakistan had over 10 million carriers of thalassemia, while nearly 5,000 children were born with thalassemia major every year, underscoring the gravity of the issue. He emphasised that awareness and timely screening were essential to prevent the disease.
He said the Punjab Assembly had taken a key step by passing the Punjab Thalassemia Prevention Act 2025, under which screening and genetic counselling were being promoted. He added that free thalassemia testing facilities were being provided to citizens, while special centres were being established in 21 districts and 15 tehsil hospitals across the province.
Paying tribute to Sundas Foundation, Malik Ahmad Khan said the organisation had been serving humanity since 1998 by providing free treatment and care to patients suffering from thalassemia, hemophilia and other blood disorders. He assured that the government and Punjab Assembly would continue to extend full cooperation to the foundation.
On the occasion, Founder Sundas Foundation Muhammad Yaseen Khan said legislation for mandatory pre-marital thalassemia screening was a historic step that would help reduce the spread of the disease. He appreciated the role of the speaker in passage of the law and termed it a guarantee for a healthier future generation.
Sundas Foundation Director Khalid Abbas Dar, in his concluding remarks, thanked the chief guest and participants and stressed that collective awareness and preventive measures, particularly pre-marital screening, were essential to combat thalassemia.
Awareness material related to thalassemia was also distributed among participants, who appreciated the legislative and awareness efforts and reiterated their commitment to a thalassemia-free society.
