CAA yet to receive request for providing air ambulance to ailing Umer Sharif

According to sources, as soon as the CAA's Air Transport Department receives the request, it would take quick action.

Umer Sharif’s son Jawad Umer had earlier said that “his father would travel to United Nations via an air ambulance arranged by the Sindh government for better medical treatment.”

A day earlier, the US government had issued visas to the ailing comedian and his family members for the legendary artist’s medical treatment in America.

In a statement yesterday, Zareen Umer, the comedian's wife, had said that the preparations for the entertainer's treatment had been completed at United States' George Washington Hospital.

The entertainer's wife said the US government had issued visas to them, and now, there were no hurdles in their departure to the states.

"The invoice for the air ambulance will be sent to the Sindh government, who will then pay for it," Zareen said.

Umer Sharif is currently under treatment at a private hospital in Karachi for multiple ailments and had requested Prime Minister Imran Khan for expediting US visas for his surgery abroad.

Umer started his career in Karachi as a stage performer at the age of 14 In 1974 and joined theatre, using the stage name Umer Zarif but later renamed that to Umer Sharif.

Some of his extremely popular comedy stage plays were 1989's ‘Bakra Qistoon Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai’.

The 60-year-old became a very popular star during this period and much of the success came from the fact that he started to record his stage shows.

Yes, Sir Eid and No Sir Eid were among the first stage plays to come out on video.

In 2006, the Umer Sharif Welfare Trust was formed with the stated goal of creating a "state of the art health center that provides services free of cost.

In October 2009, Sharif started hosting his own late-night talk show, ‘The Shareef Show’, and interviewed many actors, entertainers, musicians, and politicians on the show.

Pakistan’s star comedian also appeared as a guest judge on the Indian stand-up comedy show ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’, alongside Navjot Singh Siddhu and Shekhar Suman.

The ‘King of Comedy’ is also considered one of the greatest comedians of the Indian subcontinent. Popular Indian comedians like Johnny Lever and Raju Srivastav hailed him as ‘The God Of Asian Comedy’.

In addition, Sharif received National awards for Best Director and Best Actor in 1992 for Mr. 420. He has received ten Nigar Awards.

Sharif is the only actor to receive four Nigar Awards in a single year. He received three Graduate Awards. He is also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.