Lahore: In a groundbreaking initiative led by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s first Virtual Blood Bank Centre has been launched in Punjab. This innovative service allows patients to receive blood by contacting Emergency Helpline 15, which connects them to the Virtual Blood Bank Centre. By pressing button 4, callers are linked to a Safe City Officer who gathers necessary details about the patient’s location and blood type. The patient’s family is then connected with local donors through a conference call.

The system integrates police officers from local stations into the donation process. To simplify donor registration, individuals can sign up via Helpline 15, the Safe City website, or at Police Khidmat centers in government hospitals across Punjab. The Virtual Blood Bank serves approximately 2,500 inquiries daily and is equipped to handle the urgent needs of 250 patients each day.

Currently, over 25,000 donors are registered with the Virtual Blood Bank, including 10,000 police personnel and 15,000 civilians. Operating around the clock, the service has benefited more than 14,000 patients since its inception. Chief Minister Sharif has urged citizens, particularly the youth, to participate in blood donation, highlighting its critical importance in emergencies and its potential to save lives. She noted that this initiative marks a significant step in Punjab’s digital transformation, promising enhanced service quality across the province.