Celebrities join call to donate to Shaukat Khanum amid cancellation of fundraising event

Celebrities raise voices against the cancellation of the fundraiser event for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital Karachi.

The third SKMCH facility is under construction in Karachi for which the fundraising event was planned this week. However, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was revoked two days before the event.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration withdrew the NOC without providing a specific reason. A senior official from Shaukat Khanum Hospital confirmed the withdrawal of the NOC by the Additional District Magistrate of ICT. SKMCH is the philanthropy project of former Prime Minister and ex-cricketer Imran Khan. The first hospital was established in Lahore, then in Peshawar. The third and largest cancer hospital is under construction in Karachi.

President Alvi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his worries, stating that halting the fundraising efforts could lead to delays in constructing the hospital in the country’s largest port city, making numerous cancer patients vulnerable.

The decision is receiving backlash on social media as celebrities have joined the call to not target the hospital.

Taking to X, singer and humanitarian activist Shehzad Roy said, “Khuda kay waastay yeh na karain. Pakistan does not produce any cancer medicine locally. In this kind of situation, @SKMCH is a blessing. Please allow them to host this event and raise funds.”

https://x.com/ShehzadRoy/status/1740680164688949712?s=20

Cricketer Shadab Khan too urged authorities to allow the fundraising event. “Why is the #SKMCH fundraiser not being allowed? Cancer hospitals are essential for us and #SKMCH has always done amazing work,” said Shadab Khan in his tweet.

https://x.com/76Shadabkhan/status/1740975992058048976?s=20

https://x.com/RabiaAnumm/status/1740840228246724802?s=20

Read more: Shaukat Khanum propels Pakistan to global 6th rank

Prominent TV anchor Rabia Anum too joined the call urging people to donate directly to SKMCH. “Well Donate to SKMCH directly!!! Don’t let politics ever win over philanthropy,” said Rabia Anum.

Celebrities are urging authorities not to target SKMCH for political vendettas. Earlier this year, Pakistan becomes the sixth country in the world to receive recognition for cancer care, following the certification received by Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center. Meanwhile, the country is leading in cancer care in South Asia.

In a historic achievement, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) has received certification from the prestigious Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification Program, which is affiliated with the renowned American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).