Aga Khan stresses on research-oriented education
naugurates Ibn Zuhr AKUH Centre for Oncology Services
Bureau Report

KARACHI—The spiritual leader of Ismaili community and Chancellor of Aga Khan University (AKU), who is also the Chairman of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) inaugurated here on Friday the Rs 500 million Ibn Zuhr Building for Oncology Services at AKU’s Karachi campus. The building named after the great Muslim physician Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik Ibn Zuhr, is a comprehensive cancer centre with state-of-the- art equipment, offering a wide range of facilities such as screening, diagnostic and treatment services including high quality nuclear imaging, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical oncology services and cancer research facilities — all under one roof.
The new addition to the 654-bed Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi is the first of its kind in Sindh and will provide a much needed service in a country. Acknowledging the support of both corporate and individual donors at the building’s inauguration ceremony, the Aga Khan said, “It is through the generous contribution of donors, that we are able to excel in the area of health care and to recruit the most qualified personnel and provide facilities and services that are setting the highest standards not only in Pakistan but indeed worldwide”. The Chancellor also expressed satisfaction that services provided at the Ibn Zuhr Building will be accessible to those who can not afford the full cost of their treatment, through the support of the University Hospital’s Patient Welfare Programme. “Today AKU is a truly National University, because the full spectrum of people of Pakistan have come forward and have supported it,” he said.
The Aga Khan also referred that it was a few years back only that none of the universities of the developed world were categorised among the best universities functional across the globe. AKU President, Shams Kassam Lakha reiterated the need for the University to continuously excel its services in order to address the overall health needs of the country. Commenting on recent expansion of tertiary care at the AKUH, including the Khimji Building for cardiac care and bone marrow transplant unit and now the Ibn Zuhr Building that will provide comprehensive oncology care, he said the University was committed to the cause of quality health care and constant research. While half of the total cost of Ibn Zuhr Building was funded by the University, an equal proportion was raised through donations received from 74 generous individuals and donor groups, from Karachi and across Pakistan, who contributed a total of Rs 250 million for this project, he said. The four floor building with an area of 42,454 sq. ft, is located near the University Hospital’s entrance on Stadium Road.