DUBAI: Hundreds of supporters from various communities residing in the UAE including Pakistanis attended the fundraising gala dinner for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) and contributed generously.

The event was held at The Palm, Atlantis Dubai on Friday evening and witnessed a huge turnout and massive contribution from the supporters.

Imran Khan, cricketer-turned politician and chairman of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) and SKMCH&RC, in his speech encouraged youngsters and pioneers in different fields to come forward and play their role in the fundraising of SKMCH and own the project to serve the deserving community members in health sector. “I want youngsters and especially those who are shining in their fields to take the ownership of the hospital project from fundraising and others and relieve me for bigger things which the political scene in the country needs most,” he said.

He also informed that Rs7 billion was needed for the Karachi hospital and appealed to philanthropists from the UAE to pool their share in this huge project which aims to provide relief to poor cancer patients reeling under a healthcare burden.  

The evening was attended by guests who flew in from Pakistan including Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Chaudhry Sarwar, Imran Chaudhry, Maya Ali, Mahira Khan, Fakhar Alam besides a number of Pakistanis from different segments of life, representatives of PTI Abu Dhabi president Rizwan Bangash, Dubai president Irfan Afsar Awan, Shahid Khan, general secretary Dubai and others.

The hospital is being operated in different cities of Pakistan and was founded by Imran Khan in memory of his late mother, Shaukat Khanum, who died of cancer.

Sharing his struggle in setting up the first hospital in Lahore, Khan said he faced many hardships in constructing the first SKMCH in Lahore but never lost hope. This is because he was encouraged by the support of the people in and outside Pakistan who contributed generously whenever he asked. He highlighted the struggle of founder of nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the fight for Independence from the British. “Earlier we needed Rs700 million for the first hospital and we only collected Rs20 million in two years but after winning the Cricket World Cup in 1992 the dream came true with the generous support of everyone,” he said.

Guests contributed through sealed envelopes at the event while many bought seats and whole tables to raise funds for the hospital in the annual event. The function was being held in Dubai by the organisers on fans’ request to show their support towards a unique initiative.