KARACHI: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre is scheduled to open its new hospital in Karachi on December 29, 2026, marking a major development in cancer care for patients across Sindh and southern Balochistan.
Dr Aasim Yusuf, Chief Medical Officer of Shaukat Khanum Hospitals, announced the opening date during a media briefing at the hospital site. The Rs30 billion project is being developed in DHA City, Karachi, and will become the organisation’s third and largest cancer hospital.
According to the hospital administration, construction finishing work is continuing, while the installation of key medical equipment is under way. The equipment includes linear accelerators used in radiation treatment, a cyclotron for nuclear medicine services, ventilation systems and power generators. Recruitment of hospital staff is also in progress ahead of the planned opening.
At full capacity, the Karachi facility is expected to be twice the size of the Lahore hospital. It aims to bring diagnostic, treatment and patient-support services under one roof, making specialised cancer care more accessible to people who otherwise face high treatment costs or the difficulty of travelling to other cities.
Dr Yusuf said Karachi hospitals report more than 13,000 new cancer patients each year. He also highlighted Pakistan’s wider cancer burden, with an estimated 190,000 new cases and 119,000 cancer-related deaths annually.
Shaukat Khanum operates cancer hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar and has built its treatment model around providing care regardless of a patient’s financial circumstances. According to the organisation, more than 75 per cent of patients receive treatment free of charge after an assessment of their eligibility for financial assistance.
The organisation has also emphasised the continuing need for public donations to support free cancer treatment and the operation of its hospitals. The Karachi facility is expected to expand access to specialised treatment and provide additional support for patients and families across the region.
The opening remains scheduled for December 29, 2026, as finishing work, equipment installation and staff recruitment continue.
