ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Red Crescent (PRC) will register 100,000 blood donors besides establishing 121 state-of-the-art laboratories with blood donor centres (BDCs) across the country. This was stated by PRC Chairman Dr Saeed Elahi, while addressing the launching ceremony of Red Crescent laboratories and blood donor centres at Fatima Jinnah Auditorium, National Headquarters in Islamabad on Friday. The blood donation is a specialty of PRC and registration of 0.1 million blood donors is a new inclusion in our vision of achieving five million volunteers by 2020, he said. Dr Elahi said that the newly established laboratories are as per international standards and patients will be offered discounts on all kinds of medical tests. While talking about the new initiative, he said that PRC would soon start blood screening tests in jails and a pilot project is already underway at Adiala Jail in this regard, where around 5,000 people would get benefit from laboratory services. While addressing the ceremony, PRC Secretary General Ghulam Muhammad Awan said that PRC Blood Donor Centre has launched a joint venture with Gulf Marketing International for laboratory expansion. The latest technologies and up-to-date equipment for all sorts of laboratory tests will be installed in phase 1 of expansion, while radiography such as X-Ray, CT scan, MRIs would also be included in phase 2 of the expansion, he said. These labs are well equipped and capable to perform 2,000 different laboratory tests, and Red Crescent laboratories will provide free of cost lab services to Thalassemia patients, he added. Gulf Marketing International Chief Executive Rana Muhammad Shafiq said that it was indeed a historic moment for him and his company to join hands with PRC in this humanitarian cause. The registered blood donors would be provided with gold cards to avail 20 percent discounts in all laboratory tests, he said. While speaking at the occasion, chief guest and former commandant of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Major General (r) Farooq Ahmed said that it was a memorable occasion for him. He lauded the efforts and vision of PRC chairman and said that such initiatives would help the humanity to a great extent. Dr Saeed Elahi presented shields to Dr Asma Cheema, Uzma Yaqoob, Dr Wasifa and to Chief Guest Maj Gen (r) Farooq Ahmed at the end of ceremony. Later, Maj Gen (r) Farooq Ahmed inaugurated the first Red Crescent Laboratory along with PRC management.