Punjab has made history by becoming the first province in Pakistan to launch an air ambulance service, aimed at providing quick medical aid to critically ill patients.
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique announced the initiative on Sunday during a ceremony for a rainwater conservation project in Tajpura.
Led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, this step marks a major expansion in emergency healthcare.
The minister stated that patients suffering from trauma and cardiac issues in remote areas like Mianwali and Bahawalnagar are already being airlifted to Lahore daily, ensuring they receive urgent medical care.
Alongside the air ambulance service, the minister outlined several key development projects in Punjab. To combat urban flooding, two underground rainwater storage tanks are being built in Tajpura.
The Amina Park tank will hold 1.9 million gallons of water, while the Babri Park tank will have a capacity of over 2.1 million gallons.
Further establishment of emergency response services, over 300 new ambulances will be added to the Punjab Emergency Services Department this year.
Emergency medical coverage has also been extended along the motorway from Attock to Rahim Yar Khan.
The ceremony was attended by key officials, including Vice Chairman WASA Chaudhry Shahbaz, MD WASA Ghufran, and other local notables. The minister was sure that development projects in Tajpura would begin soon after Eid-ul-Fitr.