The annual Iftar dinner of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) was held yesterday at a local hotel in Karachi. The event organized in honor of the hospital donors and well-wishers in recognition of their support and cooperation for the hospital, attended by large number of dignitaries from media and corporate sector. Imran Khan, chairman board of governors Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, who was the chief guest on the occasion. Renowned business personalities SM Munir, Arif Habib, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi Imran Khan, Chairman, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) said people of Karachi are very generous they are supporting the SKMCH&RC since its inception and I hope they will continue their support in future as well. He appreciated the support and participation of the people at large for this noble cause. Imran Khan said, SKMCH&RC is the only charitable institute which has gained trust of even more philanthropists, individual and corporate organizations with every passing year. He said, at the beginning it was difficult and we faced lot of challenges but with the unlimited support of our people not only SKMCH&RC Lahore has been successfully working since last 23 years but SKMCH&RC Peshawar has also completed its two years of public service. Besides these two projects, construction of SKMCH&RC in Karachi will also be started this year. Imran stated that Pakistani nation stands 5th in giving charity and donations for public benefit. Thanking the donors, Imran Khan said this hospital was built by the people like you and I hope that you will continue this support in future as well. Dr. Muhammad Asim Yousaf, Chief Medical Officer SKMCH&RC, gave a briefing about the hospital’s performance during 2017 and current and future plans of the hospital. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Muhammad Asim Yousaf said that the annual budget of hospital for the year 2018 is Rs. 11 billion, half of which is to be collected from Zakat and donation of our supporters. He further said “75 to 80 percent of the patients are receiving free cancer treatment at the hospital and hospital has spent almost Rs. 33 billion on free treatment of deserving patients.” Talking about the new projects of the hospital Dr. Faisal said “to meet the ever increasing burden of patients on SKMCH&RC Lahore, we are continuously investing in capacity building at Lahore facility. Whereas, SKMCH&RC Peshawar has also completed it two year of public services, at Peshawar, construction of radiation bunkers is in process where two linear accelerator machines will be functional by end of this year. He further added that construction of SKMCH&RC Karachi is expected to be started soon. This hospital will be the largest cancer treatment facility in Pakistan. In the end, in response to the Imran Khan appeal for Zakat people at the occasion donated generously to SKMCH&RC. Published in Daily Times, May 29th 2018.