Business Recorder
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized that the government remains committed to expanding quality healthcare access and ensuring that life-saving treatments are available to all segments of society without financial burden. She directed that all health programs be made more effective and efficient to further improve public service delivery. While chairing a special meeting to review progress on health service delivery projects, she stated that the health initiatives have brought new hope to thousands of patients across the province. During the briefing, it was shared that under the CM Punjab Children’s Heart Surgery Program, 16,625 patients have been registered, while 11,466 children have successfully undergone heart surgeries in a record time and returned home healthy. Out of these, 7,664 surgeries and procedures were conducted in public hospitals, while 3,802 children received treatment in private hospitals at government expense. Under the CM Special Initiative for Transplant Program, 2,001 patients have been registered, with 1,574 successful transplant procedures completed. These include 255 free liver transplants, for which the Government of Punjab paid approximately Rs. 6.5 million per transplant, 799 kidney transplants, 460 cochlear transplants, 32 corneal transplants, and 28 bone marrow transplants provided completely free of cost. The meeting was further informed that under the CM Special Initiative for Dialysis Program, 38,125 patients have been registered, with a record of over 1.5 million dialysis procedures performed. A report on the free medicine project was also presented during the session. Moreover, the CM in her message on “World Autism Awareness Day” reaffirmed her commitment to the education, training, and rehabilitation of children with autism, emphasizing inclusion, equal opportunities, and protection of their rights. She expressed gratitude over the establishment of Pakistan’s first government autism centre and appreciated Special Assistant Sania Ashiq and her team for their efforts. The CM highlighted that 27 divisional public schools across the province have established autism centres, while initiatives are underway to extend diagnostic and therapeutic services for autistic children to the district level. She described the Maryam Nawaz School and Resource Centre for Autism as not just an institution but a social revolution, adding that early diagnosis facilities are also being provided to support children at the initial stages. Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated that special children are not a burden but a blessing and stressed the need to eliminate discrimination against them. She noted that Himmat Cards are being issued to special students, while transport facilities are being provided to every special education centre. Across Punjab, 70 buses are being arranged for special children, and 28 special education schools are being upgraded into Centres of Excellence, she added. She further shared that 313 institutions for special persons will be improved across the province, while thousands of children are already receiving education in Centres of Excellence established in regions including southern, central, and northern Punjab. Reiterating her vision, she emphasized that, for the first time, special education has been made a priority sector in Punjab, aiming to bring meaningful and lasting change in the lives of children with autism and other special needs. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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