An Interview with Dr Aasim Yusuf

Dr Aasim: “Our third, and Pakistan’s largest cancer support centre is currently under construction, in Karachi. The physical structure is complete, and I have no doubt that with the continued support of the people of Pakistan and the rest of the world, we will be able to complete, equip and inaugurate this facility”.

Dr Aasim Yusuf is the Chief Medical Officer at Shaukat Khanum. He joined a few weeks before the Lahore opened in 1994, making him the longest serving staff member. We spoke to him about his role and his reflections on more than three decades of service.

What inspired you to join Shaukat Khanum Lahore?

“I shall always remember coming in for my first day, the 1st of December, 1994, and being taken to see two empty, unfinished rooms with bare walls, which I was told was to be the Endoscopy Unit.

“Most doctors start work at an established facility and just slot themselves in. However, I was incredibly lucky to join a month before the Lahore project opened, as this allowed me to play a small part in the development and commissioning of this incredible facility”.

What key challenges did you overcome in the early days?

“There were numerous challenges, including the fact that there was very little funding left to actually run the centre or support families with limited means. It is nothing short of a miracle that we survived those early days. Three decades on, we’re proud to say that there has never been a single day when we were unable to remain true to our mission of providing support to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

“Another enormous challenge was electricity connection. For the first seven months of operations, we ran the entire facility on two large generators. In a building designed for central air-conditioning, in which the windows could not be opened, we worked through the Lahore summer using only a few pedestal fans.

“Many a time, it was unclear whether there would be funds left to cover staff salaries. During one particularly difficult period, Imran Khan, who was for the longest time, the single largest donor to the hospital, donated the plot of land he had been given by a grateful nation after winning the cricket World Cup. The proceeds were used to support staff”.

How has your role at Shaukat Khanum evolved over the years?

“The decision taken around 2010, to build a second facility, in Peshawar, afforded me the opportunity to be much more involved in the design, construction and commissioning of this huge project. Today, Shaukat Khanum Peshawar offers the same core services available in Lahore“.

What are your proudest achievements over the last three decades?

“Over the years, we’ve won many awards and accolades. For example, we achieved the Joint Commission International accreditation for Lahore in 2018, and for Peshawar in 2019. Then, in 2022, Shaukat Khanum became only the second organisation in the world to obtain JCI Enterprise accreditation for our entire organisation. These are huge achievements, and a testament to the belief that in Pakistan, we can do anything we set our minds to”.

How can donors support your work this Ramadan?

“Our third, and Pakistan’s largest cancer support centre is currently under construction, in Karachi. The physical structure is complete, and I have no doubt that with the continued support of the people of Pakistan and the rest of the world, we will be able to complete, equip and inaugurate this facility. Together, we will continue Imran Khan’s dream of extending care to all the citizens of Pakistan”.

We would like to reassure our donors that Shaukat Khanum accounts are operating as normal, with no restrictions in place. Our founder is unable to make an appeal for those who rely on our support through Shaukat Khanum in Pakistan. In his absence, you can continue helping them with your Zakat and Sadaqah as we prepare for the opening of Shaukat Khanum Karachi in December 2026.