Imran Khan

Our founder has dedicated his life to improving the welfare of ordinary Pakistanis. He is unable to make an appeal for our hospitals this Ramadan, but in his absence, we hope you will continue supporting our patients with your Zakat and show that we still stand together in the fight against cancer.

STUMPS AND SUCCESSES

Imran Khan: “On the 29th of December 1994, when the doors of Shaukat Khanum [Memorial Cancer] Hospital opened, it was a feeling of triumph within the country. It was like winning another world cup.”

How did Imran Khan make his vision for a free cancer hospital in Pakistan a reality? Through the grace of Allah (SWT) and the support of millions of people who pledged their Zakat and Sadaqah for the mission.

For 29 years, our combined donations have allowed Shaukat Khanum Hospitals to provide free treatment for the poorest people in the country. Together, we’ve changed the face of cancer care in Pakistan.

Today, the battle to save lives continues. This Ramadan, please give generously to support needy patients in Lahore and Peshawar and please help us establish a third hospital in Karachi. Find out more.

SPONSOR A CANCER PATIENT WITH YOUR ZAKAT BUILD KARACHI HOSPITAL

 


About Imran Khan

Imran Khan’s journey since leading Pakistan to a historic victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup has been remarkable. His passion for social justice and equality has seen him switch from being a celebrated sportsman to a devoted philanthropist.

His first major step towards this was the establishment of a world-class cancer hospital and research centre in Lahore. This became a national achievement and was a testament to Imran’s commitment to making quality healthcare available to all, regardless of their financial status. Thanks to his pioneering efforts, free cancer care is now a reality in Pakistan.

SPONSOR A CANCER PATIENT WITH YOUR ZAKAT BUILD KARACHI HOSPITAL

 


IMRAN KHAN THE EARLY YEARS

Imran Khan MotherImran Ahmed Khan Niazi was born on October 5th, 1952. He was the second eldest of five siblings in his family. His father, Ikramullah Khan Niazi, was a civil engineer and his mother was Shaukat Khanum.

Shaukat Khanum was a woman who was deeply proud of her heritage. Coming from a family of proficient cricketers and a Sufi Warrior Poet, she instilled self-belief and an iron resolve in her children. Tragically, after a long and agonising battle with cancer, her family lost her in February 1985, at the age of 63.

Imran Khan: “I saw someone that close to me, for two months, in extreme pain. I think only people who have seen cancer patients can know how they suffer. I think that suffering touched me very deeply. It was like a watershed in my life.”

Little did Imran realise that the most painful event in his life would lead to the founding of the first cancer hospital in Pakistan. Today, Shaukat Khanum Hospitals bring hope to millions, providing free treatment to patients with limited means and promoting cancer research in the country.

SPONSOR A CANCER PATIENT WITH YOUR ZAKAT BUILD KARACHI HOSPITAL

 


IMRAN KHAN THE CRICKETER

Imran Khan CricketImran Khan was deeply invested in cricket from a young age.

His family had many distinguished cricketers, including two of his cousins, Javed Burki and Majid Khan, who both served as captains of the Pakistani national team. It’s no surprise that Imran was inspired by their example and spent much of his childhood playing cricket. He even continued his passion while studying at the University of Oxford.

After graduating in 1976, Imran began his career as a full-time cricketer, joining Pakistan’s national team. He quickly established himself as an exceptional bowler and all-rounder, and in 1982 he was appointed captain – just like his cousins before him. He achieved his greatest sporting success when he led Pakistan to their first Cricket World Cup victory in 1992.

More than 30 years later, Imran is still celebrated for his aggressive batting style and his accurate fast bowling.

SPONSOR A CANCER PATIENT WITH YOUR ZAKAT BUILD KARACHI HOSPITAL

 


IMRAN KHAN THE PHILANTHROPIST

Imran KhanImran Khan: “My biggest prize money in cricket was winning the World Cup in 1992. The total amount was £90,000. I gave all of that to the hospital and 15-20 per cent of my subsequent earnings”. (FT.com)

Imran made his first fundraising appeal for a cancer hospital on November 10th, 1989. It came during a cricket match between Pakistan and India in Lahore and helped kickstart a series of fundraisers that went global.

The idea of a free cancer hospital for the poor was dismissed by most, but Imran wasn’t discouraged. Two years later, with the World Cup win under his captaincy, his appeal got the boost it needed.

The response was phenomenal and £1.5 million was collected in just six weeks. Imran donated the entire sum of his World Cup prize money to the project and continued to campaign until construction for the hospital was underway.

From the start, Imran was personally involved in the fundraising effort for the project and has remained active in the hospital’s global appeals and awareness campaigns*.

Imran’s other endeavours include the Imran Khan Foundation and Namal Institute (part of Namal Knowledge City), a technical college in Minwali.

SPONSOR A CANCER PATIENT WITH YOUR ZAKAT BUILD KARACHI HOSPITAL

 
* Although Imran is unable to make an appeal for our hospitals this Ramadan, we hope you will continue supporting our patients with your Zakat and show that we still stand together in the fight against cancer.


SUPPORT OUR WORK

Thanks to Imran Khan and thousands of dedicated donors, Shaukat Khanum Hospitals have changed the face of cancer care in Pakistan. We now have two JCI enterprise accredited hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar, treating thousands of cancer patients for free each year.

We are also building a third hospital in Karachi. By giving Sadaqah Jariyah to the new hospital this Ramadan, you will help bring state-of-the-art treatment closer to the people of Sindh and Southern Balochistan. We thank you for your ongoing support.

SPONSOR A CANCER PATIENT WITH YOUR ZAKAT BUILD KARACHI HOSPITAL