What happened?
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre announced that its new oncology facility in DHA City, Karachi, will officially open its doors on 29 December 2026. The date was disclosed by Dr Aasim Yusuf, the institution’s chief medical officer, during a press briefing held at the construction site.
Why does this matter for Pakistan’s health sector?
The Karachi campus will add a substantial amount of specialised cancer‑care capacity to a city that currently relies heavily on a limited number of public and private oncology centres. By introducing cutting‑edge diagnostic and treatment technologies, the hospital aims to reduce patient travel to other provinces and shorten waiting times, thereby improving outcomes for thousands of Karachi residents and patients from surrounding Sindh districts.
What are the next steps before the inauguration?
With the building’s façade now largely completed, the focus shifts to interior fit‑out, installation of medical equipment and recruitment of additional oncology specialists. Training programmes for nursing and support staff are slated to begin later this year, ensuring the workforce is ready when the hospital welcomes its first patients at the end of 2026.