Chief Secretary Punjab visit to Sundas Foundation

Lahore : Underlining the need to raise awareness about thalassemia, Chief Secretary Punjab Yosaf Naseem Khokhar on Sunday said that people donating blood and money for patients of this fatal disease are doing great service to humanity.

He was speaking as chief guest along with his wife at an Iftar dinner hosted by Sundas Foundation in honour of child patients, here at its Shadman office. The Chief Secretary and his wife also inquired after child patients and distributed gifts among them.

Mr Yosaf Naseem Khokhar remarked that the organizations serving humanity deserve praise. He said that the government is furthering welfare programmes in collaboration with welfare organizations having good repute like Sundas Foundation and it would continue extending support to such institutions.  He also lauded the efforts of Sundas Foundation to bring thalassemia and hemophilia patients back to life. 

He said that the journey started by Munno Bhai, founder of Sundas Foundation, by looking after the ailing children will continue. He asserted that the Punjab government is providing best treatment facilities to thalassemia patients in hospitals and a programme is successfully under way to prevent the disease across the province.

He mentioned that concerted efforts are required to overcome this deadly disease, adding that there is a need to enhance awareness among people, especially youth.

Sundas Foundation President Yasin Khan said that at present his organization is providing medical care to 6,000 registered thalassemia and hemophilia patients at its six centres in Punjab.  He said that last year the institution looked after 80,000 patients. Sundas Foundation Directors Suhail Warraich and Khalid Abbas Dar thanked the chief secretary and his wife for attending the ceremony, saying that their presence has encourage child patients.

The Iftar dinner was attended by child patients, their parents, donors, staff of Sundas Foundation and people from different walks of life.