KARACHI – Renowned philanthropist and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the third Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Karachi on Thursday.
Imran who landed earlier in metropolis addressed the ceremony and recalled how difficult it was for him when his mother was battling cancer and the expenses he faced for her treatment abroad.
He shared how strenuous it was to raise the funds for the first hospital in Lahore while lauding the efforts of all those who helped materialise that dream.
Taking a potshot at the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he harked back to 1990 when the Punjab government tried to establish a cancer hospital but it failed under the chair of Nawaz Sharif as Chief Minister.
‘The new hospital would make it possible for the low-income patients across Sindh to seek comprehensive cancer care’ he said.
The ceremony was attended by affluent Karachiites including business tycoon Aqeel Karim Dhedi, former cricketer Javed Miandad, actor Javed Sheikh and Behroze Sabzwari.
A statement of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust said:
‘The construction of a comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment facility in Karachi will not only provide the most modern cancer treatment to the people of Sindh, but will also help raise healthcare standards and provide training and employment opportunities in the region’ he said.
The foundation laying ceremony according to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, which has organised the event will be done by a young paediatric patient.
Earlier when Imran Khan arrived in Karachi for his three-day visit, he was received by party leaders Faisal Vawda and MPA Khurram Shairzaman.
During his visit, the PTI Chairman is expected to visit late Islamic scholar Junaid Jamshed’s residence to offer condolence.
