Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the ‘Maryam Masihai Programme’ at Children Hospital Lahore on Monday, distributing surgery cards to children with heart conditions. These cards will enable children to receive free treatment, either at government hospitals or private facilities if space is unavailable.
The program will be introduced in two phases. The first phase includes six government hospitals, such as Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and Children Hospital Lahore, where free heart surgeries will be performed.
Private hospitals are also part of this initiative. In the second phase, hospitals in Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha will join the scheme.
Read More: Mobile phones to buy under Rs50,000 in Pakistan
A dedicated monitoring system has been set up to track the progress of the program. During her visit, CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized the emotional toll parents face when their children lack access to necessary treatment, aiming to ease this burden through the initiative.
The chief minister highlighted that around 5,000 children die each year due to a lack of treatment options, making this the first program of its kind in Pakistan. It will also benefit children from KPK, Sindh, and Balochistan.
