ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan, following his open-heart surgery in London, before the end of Ramazan, said Maryam Nawaz while talking exclusively to DawnNews.

Maryam stated the premier is doing very well and he talked with her for a short period of time today and said "I am good and my condition is improving".

"Three of his arteries were blocked before the surgery," said Maryam.

“It will take five to six days for the prime minister to get discharged from the hospital, and we expect he will return home in the next three to four weeks,” Maryam said while elaborating on the premier's return.

She added he was speaking at public rallies with three clogged arteries, which proves he is a man of strong nerves.

"Our family did not realise the gravity of the prime minister's health issues, and were made aware after his last check-up in London."

Maryam's tweets

Earlier, the premier's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, had tweeted the surgeons are satisfied with his recovery, and he is expected to remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for another 24 hours.

He is expected to be moved into a room tomorrow.

Doctors also removed two drain tubes from his chest, which alleviated the premier's discomfort, added Maryam in another tweet.

Nawaz was also made to sit briefly for the first time after his open-heart surgery.

The prime minister's daughter also spoke to him today. She said in a separate tweet that although his throat was soar, she could make out he was recovering well.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's open-heart surgery was performed successfully in London on Tuesday, and he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for post-surgery care and recovery.

The surgery commenced at 0800 GMT, and lasted for four hours, during which the premier's arteries were successfully grafted.

The prime minister is expected to be in the hospital for a week following his surgery. During his stay at the hospital, the premier will be overseeing the affairs of his government from London, the media wing of PM House said earlier.

On Monday, the PM addressed an economic meeting and signing off on budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year.