LAHORE: Renowned British-Pakistani heart surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan on Thursday called on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz who congratulated him on assuming the charge of the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology.

The CM appreciated Dr Hasnat Khan’s decision to return from England to serve his countrymen and paid tribute to his spirit of public service.

During the meeting, matters related to administrative affairs of the newly constructed Jinnah Institute of Cardiology were discussed.

The CM reaffirmed her resolve to develop the institute into a state-of-the-art institution.

“It is heartening that a son of the soil has chosen to serve his underprivileged compatriots,” she said and added efforts were underway to provide the best possible treatment facilities for heart diseases to every citizen, not only in Punjab but across Pakistan.

Ms Nawaz said the government aimed at transforming Punjab into a global hub for medical tourism.

Dr Hasnat is known internationally for his friendship with the late Princess Diana.

Born in Jhelum in 1958, Dr Khan received his early medical education from the King Edward Medical University before moving to the UK for higher education.

Dr Khan came into international focus in the mid-1990s when Diana visited the Royal Brompton Hospital during a patient visit and met him there. Princess Diana was reported to have called him “Mr Wonderful”.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026