Minister of Primary and Secondary Health Care Dr Jamal Nasir's on Wednesday announced that barriers on overseas employment of nurses have been removed on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Dr Jamal Nasir said that local patients and hospitals will be able to benefit from the experience of nurses after they return from abroad.
He said that it will be a national service by nurses to send valuable foreign exchange to Pakistan while working abroad.
The provincial minister said that it has been decided to give facilities to regular employed nurses from grade 16 to 19 to grant leave for overseas employment. He assured that the decision on the request of nurses for leave abroad will be made within four days.
He said it is not necessary for nurses who want to work abroad to send leave request through the head of their institution.
Nurses eligible to take leave abroad can submit applications directly to the facility centre of Primary Health Care Department and delaying tactics cannot be used on leave applications, said Dr Jamal Nasir.
The minister said that nurses wishing to go abroad must have a job offer letter from a foreign hospital and applications for leave abroad by nurses facing inquiry under PEEDA Act 2006 will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Reporter Azmat Awan