Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust-Karachi (SKMTK) has launched its first modern and fully equipped diagnostic centre project in Karachi for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases that will start functioning in a year for which 2275 sq. yards land has already been granted by Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Khayaban-e-Itehad Phase-VII.
Former Captain Pakistan cricket team and politician Imran Khan formally performed the groundbreaking of the project at a ceremony held in DHA on Sunday. President Union Bank and Chairman SKMTK Board Shaukat Tareen, businessman Sultan Chawla and Chief Secretary Sindh Aslam Sanjrani also attended the ceremony.
Imran Khan said launch of Karachi diagnostic centre was the first step towards establishment of full-fledged cancer hospital in city and prayed this project would be completed successfully.
"We started work on Lahore hospital, a project of Rs 700 million, only with a meager amount of Rs 10 million. But God blessed us with success and that project was completed in record time period of 39 months. Now 70 percent patients are being provided free treatment at the hospital," he added.
He said Karachi centre would be a comprehensive facility as it was very essential for cancer hospital in Karachi and would provide healthcare of international standards to patients. Earlier, Board Secretary Syed Naeem-ul-Hassan said thousands of patients were provided free treatment during last 10 years at Lahore hospital.
He informed that Government of Sindh has sold a plot of 20 acres in its education city project for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital Karachi and construction of hospital would start soon.
Chief Executive Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Dr Faisal Sultan said project of Karachi diagnostic centre would be completed in three phases.
In first phase, he said only diagnostic facility would be provided in the first phase while collection centre and radiology facilities would be available in second phase and chemotherapy facility would be provided in third phase.
"Each phase will be completed in one year. This centre will greatly facilitate cancer and other patients not only in Karachi but also from all over Sindh. It will run in close cooperation with Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Karachi to be established at Super Highway," he added. President Union Bank Shaukat Tareen lauded social services of Imran Khan. He said cancer hospital in Karachi was a long waited dream of him adding that this project would be a step forward.