Symbolic blood donation: Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan condemns negative campaign on social media

LAHORE: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Sunday condemned a negative campaign going on against her over her symbolic blood donation act in Lahore.

Addressing a press conference in Sialkot, she said she participated in a function of Sundas Foundation, organised for collection of blood donations for haemophilia and thalassemia patients on the death anniversary of Munnu Bhai. “They requested me for a photo shoot while donating blood for their brochure to encourage people to take part in the noble cause,” Dr Firdous said explaining that it was just a photo shoot and she did not donate blood in reality. But, she added, later on that photo was used by the opponents for propaganda on the social media, which was condemnable.

“Making fun of our good traditions of taking care of the haemophilia and thalassemia patients through blood donations was really condemnable,” she added. “I have donated blood to the Sundas Foundation 22 times in the past,” APP quoted Dr Awan as having said on Saturday. “It is nothing short of a reward if someone’s blood saves anyone’s life,” she said and added that Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated social work a lot.

“Sundas Foundation was launching an awareness campaign for blood donation for children suffering from thalassemia and the media coverage was a part of it. Presenting the footage and pictures of the event in a misleading way on certain sections of mainstream and social media is condemnable,” she later tweeted.