LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, during a meeting with Secretary Emergency Services Dr. Rizwan Naseer, lauded the advancements in regional rescue operations, including the upcoming Air Ambulance Project.
The briefing, which discussed both the Air Ambulance Pilot Run and the Motorway Rescue 1122 services, detailed the transfer mechanisms for patients from remote areas like Bahawalnagar and Mianwali using air ambulances. Plans for the acquisition of new planes and the use of the Chief Minister’s helicopter for emergency patient transfers in Central Punjab were also approved during the session.
Dr. Rizwan expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Maryam for allowing the use of the helicopter, which will aid in rapid patient transport in emergencies. Chief Minister Maryam expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Air Ambulance project and emphasized the urgency of initiating rescue services on motorways.
Maryam highlighted that Punjab is the first province to introduce an air ambulance service, a critical development given that timely hospital transfers during the ‘golden hour’—the first hour after a traumatic injury—are vital for saving lives. “In cases of heart attack, head injury, and spinal injury, reaching a major hospital within the golden hour is crucial,” she noted.
She further mentioned that the introduction of the air ambulance will significantly enhance the capability to transport patients from distant areas to major hospitals swiftly. Additionally, she stated that Rescue 1122 ambulances would be stationed at motorway interchanges to ensure immediate response to accidents.
Chief Minister Maryam proudly noted that, with these developments, Punjab is setting a standard in rescue services not just within Pakistan but across South Asia. Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman was also present at the meeting.
