LAHORE: Extending heartfelt New Year greetings to the nation, Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari announced that under the guidance of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the province has achieved a landmark breakthrough in the health sector. Azma Bokhari said the joy of the New Year is doubled as Punjab has entered a new era of advanced endovascular aneurysm treatment, giving citizens access to world-class healthcare within the province. She said that Dr. Habib Khan, an American-trained surgeon and the only USA board-certified Pakistani vascular surgeon, has returned to Pakistan to lay the foundation of modern vascular care. Under his expertise, Pakistan has successfully performed its first EVAR procedure for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm — a feat accomplished in Lahore — marking a historic milestone in the nation’s medical history. Highlighting its clinical significance, Azma Bokhari noted that this condition is often life-threatening, but through EVAR, a stent is used to reinforce the artery internally, restoring safe blood flow. She emphasized that EVAR is a minimally invasive and internationally recognized procedure that eliminates the need for general anaesthesia or ventilator support, ensuring faster recovery and fewer complications. Azma Bokhari added that Pakistan—home to nearly 300 million people—now finally has the level of vascular care that should have been available years ago. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026