LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed health authorities to provide free medical treatment to Pakistani patients who were forced to return from India due to rising tensions between the two countries.
Following the recent deterioration in bilateral relations, several Pakistani patients undergoing treatment in India were sent back without completing their medical procedures. In response, the Punjab government has decided to ensure that all such patients—especially those in need of transplants or suffering from critical illnesses—receive proper care within the province.
Issuing clear instructions, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated, “Patients returning from India will not be left alone under any circumstance.” She emphasized the importance of compassionate care and tasked the health department with taking immediate steps to facilitate these individuals.
In meetings with Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan and lawmakers Sardar Muhammad Asim Sher Maken and Khurram Khan Virk, the chief minister also discussed a broad range of issues including public welfare, national and political matters, the upcoming budget, and provincial development initiatives. She reiterated her government’s commitment to accelerating public service delivery across Punjab.
Separately, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised the Lahore Police for its efforts in combating crime. She commended the Operations Wing for significantly improving the city’s safety rankings, noting, “Lahore is now safer than cities like London and New York, thanks to the commendable work of our police force.”
