Karachi: Pakistan’s third and largest Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital is scheduled to open on December 29, 2026, in DHA City, Karachi. Chief Medical Officer Dr Aasim Yusuf confirmed the planned opening date during a media briefing at the hospital site on October 7. The Rs30 billion project aims to expand access to cancer diagnosis and treatment for patients across Sindh and southern Balochistan.
According to Dr Aasim Yusuf, the new hospital will be approximately twice the size of the Lahore facility when fully developed. It will bring cancer diagnosis, treatment and supporting medical services under one roof. The hospital’s physical structure is complete, while finishing work, installation of advanced medical equipment and staff recruitment are still underway.
The new facility will include advanced cancer-treatment technologies, including linear accelerators for radiotherapy and a cyclotron supporting nuclear medicine services. Shaukat Khanum reports that more than 75% of its cancer patients receive treatment free of charge, while the organisation has spent approximately Rs137 billion on free cancer care since 1994.
The hospital network has announced a Rs43.2 billion operating and development budget for 2026 to support its medical services and expansion. The Karachi hospital’s opening remains a future target, with some facilities planned to become operational in later phases rather than all services necessarily starting on the first day.
