CM pays tribute to blood donors, calls for greater public participation

LAHORE, Jun 14 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday paid tribute to voluntary blood donors and urged the public, particularly the youth, to actively participate in blood donation campaigns, describing the practice as one of the noblest forms of humanitarian service.

In her message on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, the chief minister said blood donors perform a selfless act that saves precious human lives and provides hope to patients and families facing medical emergencies.

She said voluntary blood donors are not benefactors of a single individual or family but of society as a whole, as their contributions help ensure timely treatment for patients suffering from accidents, surgeries, blood disorders and other critical health conditions.

CM Maryam Nawaz praised individuals associated with the noble cause of blood donation and acknowledged their valuable role in strengthening community welfare and healthcare services. She emphasized that promoting a culture of voluntary blood donation was essential to ensuring the availability of safe blood for those in need.

Highlighting the Punjab government’s initiatives in this regard, she said the province had the distinction of establishing Pakistan’s first formal Virtual Blood Bank, a modern system designed to connect blood donors with patients requiring urgent blood transfusions.

The CM said citizens could register themselves as blood donors through the Safe City website or at their nearest Police Khidmat Markaz. She added that people in need of blood could access the Virtual Blood Bank by calling the Emergency Helpline 15 and pressing option 4, enabling swift contact between donors and patients.

She noted that the Virtual Blood Bank was helping bridge the gap between blood donors and recipients through the use of modern technology, thereby facilitating timely assistance during emergencies and improving access to life-saving blood supplies.

Referring to international health standards, Maryam Nawaz said the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the availability of safe blood an essential component of a strong and effective healthcare system. Ensuring an adequate and safe blood supply, she added, remains a key priority for governments seeking to improve public health outcomes.

The CM said the Punjab government is committed to promoting voluntary blood donation, raising public awareness and strengthening healthcare infrastructure across Punjab. She stressed that collective efforts by citizens, healthcare institutions and public organizations were vital for building a reliable blood donation network capable of meeting the needs of patients throughout the province. She called upon the youth to come forward and play their role in this humanitarian cause, expressing confidence that greater public participation would help save countless lives and foster a stronger spirit of compassion and social responsibility in society.