DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Around 60,000 thalassemia patients are currently living in Pakistan, while 25,000 cases of thalassemia major have been registered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was revealed at a press conference held in connection with “World Thalassemia Day 2026” at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Thursday.
These views were expressed by Ijaz Ali Khan, who also serves as a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan. On the occasion, Peshawar Press Club President M. Riaz and senior journalist Shamim Shahid were also present.
He urged the government to immediately introduce legislation in KP on the lines of the “Thalassemia Prevention Bill 2025” passed in Punjab, to help control the spread of the genetic blood disorder, particularly in the merged districts.
He suggested that thalassemia screening should be made mandatory for students at the time of admission to educational institutions, and also recommended compulsory pre-marriage testing, including Hb electrophoresis, to prevent transmission of the disease.
Ijaz Ali Khan said thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which the body is unable to produce sufficient healthy red blood cells, forcing patients with thalassemia major to undergo lifelong blood transfusions every 15 to 20 days.
He said the prevalence of thalassemia in Pakistan ranges between 5 to 8 percent, significantly higher than the global average of 1.5 percent. He added that around 5,000 children with thalassemia major are born annually in the country, while millions are estimated to carry the minor form of the disease.
He further said that a large number of cases are linked to consanguineous marriages, citing that about 60 percent of marriages are between first cousins.
The Hamza Foundation chief said that since 2006, the organisation has been providing free healthcare services to patients suffering from thalassemia, haemophilia and other blood disorders, including screened blood transfusions, medicines and meals. He added that so far, over 107,480 screened blood bags have been provided to patients.
