LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Saturday that the first air ambulance service would start in June.

“First training session for Pakistan/Punjab’s first air ambulance service. The service will be operational in June Insha’Allah,” she wrote in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. She said the air ambulance project had been completed in a record time.

The chief minister hinted at getting helicopters for the air ambulance service too besides a plane. Replying to a tweet which suggested that a helicopter would have been better as the plane required a runaway, she wrote, “We are getting helis too. This plane requires a very short landing strip. Also helis can’t fly in bad weather”.

Earlier, Punjab Minister for Health and Emergency Services Khawaja Salman Rafique said the launch of the air ambulance service marked a significant milestone in the province’s history. He said it was an important project, which would provide swift medical assistance to the people of Punjab. He underscored his department’s commitment to extending services to the motorway, with rescuers stationed strategically at entry and exit points to ensure a rapid response to emergencies.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2024