KARACHI: Veteran actor and comedian Omer Sharif is ready to travel abroad to receive medical treatment after requesting the prime minister's assistance to facilitate his journey via a video message. Actor Reema Khan and Sharif's wife Zareen recently posted details about the actor's treatment plan on social media.

Zareen posted a message on Facebook to 'share the good news'. "Our beloved Omer has been performing well as per doctors and he is fit to fly through air ambulance," she wrote.

"I, Zareen Omer would like to sincerely thank [the] federal government for doing the visa process as fast as possible and on the other hand would like to thank Sindh government Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Murtaza Wahab and Syed Murad Ali Shah for bearing the expense of [the] Air Ambulance and Waseem Badami for playing the important role in this process and also to all protocol officers from Prime Minister's Office. And also to all the people who sent their best wishes and prayers just because of your prayers Omer is showing improvement."

Earlier, Zareen had called for prayers for her husband whom she said was quite ill.

Lollywood actor Reema Khan also took to social media to announce that her husband, Dr Syed Tariq Shahab, has agreed to perform Sharif's surgery after he is flown to the United States.

"Umer Sharif [is] one of the greatest comedians of the sub-continent and a real legend of all times," Khan wrote. "He always worked hard to make other people laugh and smile. Today it disturbs me to know that he is in pain and distress because of his grave illness. I am proud of my husband — Dr Syed Tariq Shahab — who has agreed to perform the high risk procedure and is helping the family in his transfer arrangements to America. I have requested him to do all he can to help Umer Sharif sahib recover from this illness."

Sharif's message was broadcast on the ARY News talkshow 11th Hour hosted by Waseem Badami. Badami had urged the government to provide support in making urgent travel arrangements so that Sharif could fly out and gain treatment for his ailment, which is only available abroad.