Shaukat Khanum hospital dismisses NOC rumours, continues fundraising

KARACHI: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH) on Tuesday denied reports circulating on social media claiming that the Islamabad administration had revoked a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a fundraising event supporting its under-construction Karachi facility.

In a statement, the hospital clarified that the notification being shared was outdated and dated back to December 2023. “The news currently circulating on social media about the withdrawal of a NOC by the Islamabad administration is from December 2023,” SKMCH said.

The organisation explained that the matter concerned a gala dinner scheduled in Islamabad on December 29, 2023, organised to raise funds for the Karachi hospital. SKMCH confirmed that all fundraising activities and construction work for the Karachi facility have continued without interruption.

“The Karachi hospital project remains on schedule and is expected to open in December 2026,” the statement added.

SKMCH also thanked its supporters, reaffirming its commitment to providing cancer care to all patients, regardless of financial capacity. The hospital currently operates major centres in Lahore and Peshawar, offering thousands of free treatments daily, it said.

“The mission of Shaukat Khanum continues with the trust and generosity of our supporters,” the hospital emphasised, urging the public to disregard any outdated or misleading social media reports.