Punjab launches country’s first virtual blood bank

LAHORE: On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s first and exemplary Virtual Blood Bank Centre has been established in Punjab, marking a significant step forward in healthcare innovation.

Patients in urgent need of blood can now call Emergency Helpline 15 and press ‘4’ to be directly connected to the Virtual Blood Bank Centre. A Safe City officer stationed at the centre collects essential information such as the patient’s location and required blood type. The officer then facilitates a conference call between the patient’s family and registered donors in the relevant area.

A unique feature of this model is the inclusion of police officers from local police stations in the donation process, reinforcing community engagement. The process of registering as a blood donor has also been simplified — citizens can register via Helpline 15, the Safe City official website, or at Police Khidmat Counters in government hospitals across Punjab.

Currently, the Virtual Blood Bank handles around 2,500 calls daily and is equipped to cater to the urgent needs of up to 250 patients per day. Over 25,000 donors are registered with the system, including 10,000 police personnel and 15,000 civilians. The 24/7 facility has already served more than 14,000 patients across the province. The Punjab chief minister appealed to citizens, particularly the youth, to participate in the noble cause of blood donation. “Punjab has entered a new era of digitization, and the quality of public service delivery will now rise to new heights,” she added.

Meanwhile, the CM congratulated former cricketer Sana Mir on her induction into the ICC Hall of Fame. She praised the milestone as a proud moment for every daughter of Pakistan and conveyed her best wishes for Sana Mir’s continued success.