SKMT Fundraising Dinner in Dubai

Dinner proceeds to garner MRI machines for Pak cancer hospital

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, February 24, 2012

DUBAI: Pakistani expatriates have in the past contributed significantly towards the establishment of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre.
Once again, when presented with the opportunity to be counted upon for their generosity, they helped raise Dhs2 million on Tuesday night through proceeds generated by the entry fee for a fundraising gala dinner held at the Atlantis Hotel, Dubai, besides a live auction and raffle draws which were part of the evening’s programme.
The amount collected will be used to purchase 2 new MRI machines for the hospital, announced former cricketer-turned-politician and chairman of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) Imran Khan during the star-studded gala dinner.
The occasion saw the attendance of a good number of cricket and showbiz personalities, besides prominent community members keen to be part of the charity event. Those who came included Sunil Gavaskar, Pooja Bedi, Mudassar Nazar, Pakistan’s No.1 pop band Strings, the cast of the famous ongoing TV Drama serial ‘Humsafar,’ which included director Sarmad Khosat, actors Behroz Sabzwari, Fawad Khan, Mahira Hafeez, Aamina Sheikh, Adnan Siddiqi and others.
Khan said that the hospital had been successfully running in Lahore and that it was the only such facility in the world where 75 per cent of its cancer patients were treated free, without any support from government institutions. “The Shaukat Khanum hospital’s budgetary deficit was being met by overseas Pakistanis and well-wishers from other expatriate communities. Tonight we are going to raise funds to procure 2 new MRI machines for the hospital, as each machine costs around $1 million,” he said.
He also announced that while work on the second cancer hospital in Peshawar would start soon, land for which had been acquired from the Khyber Pukhtunkhawa provincial government, the search for suitable land in Karachi for the third hospital was in progress.
“There are so many cancer patients who need proper treatment and in order to cater to this need we have to set up new hospitals in the country as treatment outside Pakistan is unaffordable in a majority of cancer hospitals,” he said.
He also appreciated the support of showbiz and cricket personalities who have taken part in the hospital’s fundraising activities since he launched the project in 1994.
Behroz Sabzwari, one of the senior actors present at the event and a household name in Pakistan, said that he had been part of Imran Khan’s fundraising activities and had visited Europe and America many times during the last 20 years. “It is the personality and character of Imran Khan that makes it easy for people to support him and the building of a cancer hospital with the support of Pakistanis and others is a great achievement,” he added. He asked the people to come forward and extend their support.
Bilal Maqsood of the band ‘Strings’ said that Imran Khan had been doing a tremendous job and their band had been taking part in his fundraising activities from the beginning.
Replying to a question, he said, “We are not associated with any political party; we are friends of Imran Khan. We have released a song Main To Dekhoonga (I will see) around four months ago, which has gained popularity among the Pakistani youth. It is a song for every Pakistani, not for a political party and it perfectly suits Imran Khan as he is the new and only hope for Pakistan.”
Actor Fawad Khan said, “The cancer hospital is a great project by Imran Khan. This hospital has achieved many milestones and a lot of people have taken part in this journey. It is an honour for us to be now part of its expansion,” he said.
“Imran Khan and his team have run the cancer hospital and the research centre with dedication, and similarly, people will support him in delivering for the country. I support change, but it should be remembered that change comes in every aspect,” he said when asked on Khan’s political activities.
End

~ by jamilkhan on February 24, 2012.