The Punjab government has decided to purchase a helicopter and two planes for launching an air ambulance service in the province, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

A working committee will be constituted for the purpose.

Provincial Ministers for Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Khawaja Imran Nazir, DG Rescue Dr. Rizwan Naseer and secretary finance will be included in the committee.

Also on Friday, 24News reported that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had allowed her helicopter to be used to transport patients to hospitals in emergencies.

She announced this while chairing a meeting in Lahore at which she was briefed about the air ambulance service in detail.  

She said that most of the people in Pakistan lost their lives only because they are not shifted to hospitals on time, adding it was necessary to shift people to hospitals on time, especially in far-flung areas of the province, in the event of an accident.

She further said that she was pained to see a cardiac patient at Sargodha hospital feeling helpless.

The chief minister said that the Rescue1122 service would soon be launched on motorways as well.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Adviser Pervaiz Rashid, Provincial Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, chief secretary, chairman P&D, secretary finance and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad Hussain