PSP sets up blood donation camp for thalassemia patients: Kamal

Pak Sarzameen Party Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal Sunday said his party has initiated a move to arrange blood for the thalassemia patients, who are now struggling with life threatening disorders, amid countrywide lockdown.

Addressing a press conference at his party's head office, Pakistan House, Kamal said that the COVID-19 related lockdown has not only affected common man but a large number of children suffering from thalassemia are in dire need of blood transfusions. He said that currently 1 lac children in Pakistan suffer from thalassemia who need blood transfusions weekly, so nearly 200,000 pints of blood are needed per month to save the precious lives of thalassemia patients. The party, considering the severity of the issue, set up a blood donation camp where blood was being donated in mass scale by PSP Foundation volunteers and other donors.

Kamal said that lockdown must be enforced, but the government should take care of the poor, it should announce a relief package to the needy families. He said that government should not consider Karachi a mere city. It's the financial and revenue hub of the country, hence it should be given its due share.

He said the PTI-led federal government has already announced Tiger Force, but we do not see any Tiger Force in action. He reiterated his demand to activate the 1.5 lac local bodies elected representatives through a presidential ordinance. "This force can play vital role in combating the battle with the post global pandemic situation," Kamal said.

He called for the unity and National cohesion to cope with the post COVID-19 challenges. Everyone will have to work together under a uniform national policy, he said. He also raised question over rashan distribution mechanism of the Sindh Government. The provincial government is saying it has distributed billions of rupees aid amongst the needy families, but the fact is, no one knows how and where this donation was spent? The poor people from across Sindh say that they have not received any government assistance.

The PSP President Anis Kaim Khani, actor Mani and Hira, and others were also present during the presser.

Kamal expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of hundreds of Pakistanis living abroad. Overseas Pakistanis are the backbone for the country. Their foreign exchange inflows run the national economy. They have always supported the country in every difficulty. Overseas Pakistanis are worried. Thousands of Pakistanis are becoming jobless these days. He requested the government to issue directives to all embassies to ensure relief work for the fellow countrymen in this testing time.

On this occasion, Kashif Iqbal of Thalassemia Center urged the people to donate blood so that the lives of Thalassemia children could be saved. "My child lost his life due to Thalassemia disease. I had to bear the painful demise of my son, but I do not want other parent to go through this," he concluded.