LAHORE: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) building showered with pink lights to support Pink Ribbon's breast cancer awareness campaign. On this occasion, Founder of Pink Ribbon, Omer Aftab showed his gratitude to the chairman and administration of KPT for illuminating this historic place.

Omer Aftab said KPT building is considered a masterpiece of architecture and it has symbolic importance too, as it has served as a military hospital during the 1ST World War. Omer Aftab said that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Average 90,000 cases are being reported while 40,000 women die from breast cancer every year in Pakistan, which is the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia. These statistics show that over 10 million women in Pakistan are at risk of breast cancer.

The mortality rate is so high in Pakistan because 70 percent of breast cancer patients come for treatment at stage III and most of them do not seek treatment due to lack of awareness, societal taboos and stigmas attached with the disease. On the other hand, poor health care system, lack of healthcare facilities, absence of female consultants and financial issues are some barriers to screening, early diagnosis and treatment-seeking for women with symptoms.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020