Punjab CM’s Vision Drives Modernisation of Nursing Sector

By Farzana Chaudhry — Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Nurses play a central role in sustaining patient care through professional competence, compassion and continuous service, medical experts said at a nursing leadership workshop held in Lahore, highlighting the Punjab government’s push to modernise the nursing sector.
Addressing a Nursing Leadership Workshop organised under the Nursing Faculty Development Program at the College of Nursing, Ameer-ud-Din Medical College/Lahore General Hospital, Principal Prof. Dr. Muhammad Farooq Afzal said nursing had evolved into a specialised and research-driven profession, contributing significantly to improved healthcare outcomes.
He said nursing services form a foundational pillar of any healthcare system and, in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, strengthening nursing leadership and providing world-class training to nurses has become a key institutional priority.
The workshop was attended by Program Director Dr. Saira Zeeshan, Principal College of Nursing Samrah Naz Kanwal, DCNS Fazilat Lal, NS Saima Fatah, Nursing Supervisor Naseem Akhlaq, nursing instructors, faculty members, nursing officers and students.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Saira Zeeshan said the objective of the workshop was to enhance the professional capacity of nursing faculty, align them with international standards and prepare them for effective leadership roles within the healthcare system.
The training featured expert sessions by Dr. Naseem Rafiq, Principal Shalimar College of Nursing, and Dr. Nazia Ilyas, Principal College of Nursing at the University of Child Health Sciences Lahore. The sessions focused on leadership development, teamwork and effective communication in clinical settings.
Participants described the workshop as highly beneficial, noting that it would help strengthen decision-making abilities, leadership skills and overall patient care delivery.
Speaking to the media, Prof. Dr. Farooq Afzal said the Faculty Development Program would be further expanded in line with Punjab government policy to equip nurses with advanced leadership skills and raise patient care standards to global benchmarks. He added that such initiatives would open new avenues in research, leadership and professional growth within the nursing sector, ultimately benefiting patients through improved healthcare services.
“A strong nursing system is the backbone of an effective healthcare system,” he said.