There are 83 blood banks operating in the city and 306 across the country, which supply blood for patients with thalassemia and other diseases.

It has become difficult for these blood banks to supply blood because of the wave of violence in Karachi, as large quantities are required to treat bullet wounds, reported a private news channel on Thursday.

The demand for blood has increased by 25-30pc. In July alone over 500 people were injured due to firing in Karachi and a large number of people are still under treatment in numerous hospitals and require large quantities of blood.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011