Founder and Central President of Al-Aqsa Welfare Trust Azad Kashmir and Pakistan, Muhammad Hameed Khan-widely known as the ‘Edhi of Azad Kashmir’-has announced that his organization has so far provided free blood to more than 800,000 innocent children and patients across the region.
He was speaking at a blood donation and donation distribution conference held on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day here at the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad on Thursday.
Muhammad Hameed Khan clarified that the Trust is not affiliated with any religious or political party. Instead, it serves thalassemia patients, accident victims, the unidentified, bomb blast survivors, and especially those injured along the border, with free-of-cost blood donations.
The event was graced by NPC President Azhar Jatoi as the chief guest and attended by a large number of parents of thalassemia-affected children.
The speakers at the event called on the governments of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, international donor agencies, and humanitarian organizations to come forward and assist the countless impoverished children suffering from life-threatening conditions like thalassemia.
They also demanded the passage of legislation mandating thalassemia testing before marriage. Appealing to the United Nations and international powers, the speakers urged immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Kashmir to save innocent lives from the ongoing violence by Israel and India.
They called upon all Muslim nations to unite and confront oppression through solidarity and collective action. Hameed Khan emphasized that this life is short and must be lived in service of humanity as ordained by Islam.
He has tirelessly collected donations from the people of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan for this noble cause. During the event, substantial financial aid was distributed among children in the presence of the chief guest and other dignitaries.
Hameed Khan expressed deep gratitude to the people of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan, the National Press Club, social welfare organizations, hospital administrations, and all institutions and guests present at the conference.
He thanked them for their moral and material support in saving the lives of children suffering from thalassemia, blood cancer, accident injuries, and border violence.
He vowed that with continued public support, the Trust will keep providing free blood, food, transport, medications, spleen surgeries, and bone marrow transplants to thousands of children in need.
He also announced plans to establish Trust offices in every district of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan and called on volunteers and blood donors to join the cause, especially during emergencies, to help save lives.