In a major step toward digitized public service, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the establishment of Pakistan’s first-ever Virtual Blood Bank Centre, an exemplary initiative designed to provide immediate, life-saving blood to patients across the province.
The new system leverages the existing Emergency Helpline 15 infrastructure. Citizens in need of blood can connect instantly to the Virtual Blood Bank Centre by calling 15 and pressing option 4.
A Coordinated, 24/7 Digital Link
The process is designed for speed and efficiency:
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A Safe City Officer at the centre collects essential information, including the patient’s location and required blood group.
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The officer then uses a conference call to immediately connect the patient's family with registered donors in their specific area.
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The service operates 24/7 across Punjab and has already benefited over 14,000 patients.
The centre currently handles around 2,500 daily contact calls for blood, with arrangements being made to meet the urgent needs of up to 250 patients every day.
Building a Donor Network
The Virtual Blood Bank has swiftly built a network of over 25,000 registered donors. This donor pool is highly diverse, including 10,000 police personnel and 15,000 citizens. The registration process has been streamlined to encourage participation:
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Prospective donors can register via the 15 Helpline.
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Registration is also available through the Safe City official website.
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Donors can register at the Police Khidmat counters established in government hospitals across Punjab.
In a key step to expand the network, blood donor agencies, NGOs, and blood banks from universities and colleges have also been linked to the system.
A Call to Youth and Digitization
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif appealed to the citizens, particularly the youth, to join this noble cause. She emphasized that "every drop of blood is precious in times of emergency and dire need" and can offer a "ray of hope for saving someone’s life".
The Chief Minister highlighted that this initiative marks Punjab's entry into a "new era of digitization," which will elevate the quality of public services to new heights.
