Punjab Enters New Era of Advanced Vascular Care, Says Azma Bokhari

By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE — Punjab’s Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has extended New Year greetings to the nation, announcing a major breakthrough in the province’s healthcare sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bokhari said the beginning of the New Year marks a significant milestone for Punjab as it enters a new phase of advanced endovascular aneurysm treatment, enabling citizens to access world-class medical care within the province.
She said that Dr. Habib Khan, an American-trained surgeon and the only U.S. board-certified Pakistani vascular surgeon, has returned to Pakistan to establish modern vascular care services. Under his leadership, Pakistan has successfully performed its first Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) procedure for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in Lahore — a historic achievement in the country’s medical history.
Explaining the clinical importance of the development, Bokhari said the condition is often life-threatening, but EVAR allows doctors to reinforce the damaged artery internally using a stent, restoring safe blood flow and significantly improving survival chances.
She emphasized that EVAR is a minimally invasive and internationally recognized procedure that does not require general anesthesia or ventilator support, resulting in faster recovery times and fewer complications for patients.
Bokhari noted that Pakistan, with a population nearing 300 million, has now attained a standard of vascular care that should have been available years ago. She added that modern cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, are also being provided across Punjab, reflecting the province’s expanding healthcare capacity.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Bokhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is determined to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for every citizen of Punjab. She concluded by stating that the province has entered a new era of healthcare excellence, driven by innovation, public service, and sustained reform.