Islamabad: Karachi has emerged as the most generous city in Pakistan for cancer patients this Ramzan after donors raised more than Rs550 million in a single fundraising event for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMH&RC), the highest amount collected at a single iftar event this year.
Chief Executive Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Dr Faisal Sultan said the amount raised at the Karachi fundraising dinner marked a record level of support for the hospital’s charitable mission.
Speaking about the response from donors, Dr Sultan said the generosity shown by the residents of Karachi reflected their deep commitment to supporting patients who cannot afford cancer treatment.
“The response from Karachi was extraordinary. The donations collected during a single evening exceeded Rs550 million, compared with about Rs280 million raised at a similar event last year, showing how support for the hospital continues to grow,” he said.
According to him, Shaukat Khanum organised 14 fundraising iftar events across Pakistan during Ramzan this year, raising around Rs2.7 billion, compared with Rs2 billion collected during similar events last year.
Fundraising dinners were held in several cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan, with donors across the country contributing to the hospital’s work.
Dr Sultan said the funds raised would support the hospital’s expanding treatment services as well as the construction of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Karachi, which is expected to become operational by the end of the current year.
Once completed, the Karachi facility will be the largest cancer treatment centre in Pakistan, designed as a comprehensive cancer hospital equipped with advanced radiotherapy machines, specialised surgical facilities and modern diagnostic laboratories.
The new hospital is expected to significantly improve access to cancer treatment for patients from Sindh and southern parts of the country, many of whom currently travel to Lahore or Peshawar for treatment at existing Shaukat Khanum facilities.
Pakistan reports an estimated 180,000 new cancer cases every year, but Dr Sultan said overall cancer incidence remains relatively lower compared with many developed countries because Pakistan’s population is comparatively young.
“In a large population like Pakistan, cancer rates appear relatively lower mainly because most people are young, and cancer is more common in older age groups,” he explained.
However, he cautioned that the number of cancer patients is expected to increase in the coming decades as life expectancy rises and lifestyle related risk factors grow.
Dr Sultan said the annual operating budget of Shaukat Khanum hospitals is about Rs43 billion, while donations received up to February 28 this year had reached around Rs3.3 billion.
He added that zakat contributions alone amounted to about Rs12 billion last year, reflecting the strong trust donors place in the hospital.
According to him, the institution spent around Rs25 billion in 2025 on the treatment of indigent cancer patients, enabling thousands of people to receive free cancer care.
“Each year we are able to spend more on financially supported treatment because people donate more generously every year,” he said.
Dr Sultan said Shaukat Khanum hospitals are continuously investing in advanced cancer treatment technologies, including modern imaging equipment, radiotherapy systems, specialised surgical facilities and new cancer medicines to ensure patients receive world class care in Pakistan.
He emphasised that early detection plays a critical role in successful cancer treatment, noting that cancers diagnosed at early stages are often easier to treat and sometimes curable.
He advised people to seek medical advice if they experience persistent symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, lumps, unusual bleeding or prolonged cough.
The hospital chief also stressed the importance of cancer prevention, urging people to avoid tobacco use, which is a major cause of oral, throat and lung cancers in Pakistan.
He also encouraged vaccination against viruses associated with certain cancers, including hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV), along with adoption of healthy lifestyles, balanced diets and regular physical activity.
Established in Lahore in 1994, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital operates on a charitable model under which a majority of patients receive free or subsidised treatment, funded primarily through donations from people across Pakistan and overseas.
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