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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Cancer patients denied affordable treatment
Unlike societal attitudes, illnesses rarely discriminate on the basis of wealth and status. However, the treatment to fight off those deadly conditions is only reserved for those with a decent bank balance. Across the port city, no dedicated cancer diagnosis or treatment facility is available at the government level for low-income patients suffering from the fatal condition. With no registry of cancer patients, the few cancer facilities available are brimming with patients. The chemotherapy facility at the Civil Hospital and the radiation unit at the Jinnah Hospital often deny treatment to patients, forcing them to seek private care. Only two radiation units have been set up in the city at the Jinnah Hospital and Kiran Hospital, which are operating under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. On the other hand, radiation facilities are available in two to three private hospitals in Karachi where one session of radiation therapy costs Rs15,000 to Rs20,000. In Pakistan, more than 185,000 new cases of cancer and 125,000 deaths are reported each year, with breast cancer, oral cancer and lung cancer among the most common. Medical experts are of the opinion that cancer is becoming increasingly common among the local population however, adequate cancer treatment facilities are missing at the government level, due to which patients are either put on the waiting list for several months or have to pay lakhs of rupees for treatment at a private hospital. Amir, the husband of a woman suffering from breast cancer, confirmed that there was no facility for the treatment of breast cancer at government hospitals. "When I contacted the Civil and Jinnah Hospitals, they had a long list of female patients. Therefore, we went to multiple private facilities, where my wife's surgery and 17 sessions of chemotherapy alongside tests and medications cost a total of Rs1.7 million. Radiation and chemotherapy are very expensive at private hospitals," said Amir. Similarly, Mohammad Farid, a 70-year-old prostate cancer patient, was persistently denied treatment at public hospitals. "During this time my pain worsened, after which I contacted a urologist at a private hospital. The surgery cost Rs200,000, while each of the six chemotherapy sessions cost me Rs40,000. There is no facility for the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases at public facilities. Cancer treatment is beyond the reach of the poor man," regretted Farid. According to sources of the Express Tribune, out of a total of 44,340 patients who visited the radiology department of the Jinnah Hospital from January to December 2024, only 1,253 were given admission for treatment. Prof. Dr Noor Muhammad Soomro, an oncologist and former Head of the Department of Cancer at the Civil Hospital, confirmed that the few radiation therapy units available in the city received a huge influx of patients due to which many had to wait for months. "Among men, mouth and throat cancer is most common, while among women, breast cancer is commonly reported. Due to expensive cancer treatment, poor patients seek indigenous methods of cure. If cancer is not treated in time, the patient dies quickly. Cancer is treated in three ways; surgery, radiation and chemotherapy," informed Dr Soomro. Dr Shumaila Khuhro, Head of Oncology at the Civil Hospital, revealed that the cancer unit had 44 beds, while more than 100 cancer patients were reported daily in the cancer OPD. Dr Nausheen, Deputy Director at the Jinnah Hospital, shared that the cancer unit had 52 beds while nearly 180 cancer patients sought treatment on a daily basis. "The Civil and Jinnah Hospital are the only hospitals in the province where cancer patients are being provided treatment facilities," confirmed Dr Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Jilani, Deputy Director Health Karachi.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Cancer patients denied affordable treatment in Karachi
With few chemotherapy and radiation units, low-income patients have no choice but to empty their pockets at private hospitals. PHOTO: PIXABAY Unlike societal attitudes, illnesses rarely discriminate on the basis of wealth and status. However, the treatment to fight off those deadly conditions is only reserved for those with a decent bank balance. Across the port city, no dedicated cancer diagnosis or treatment facility is available at the government level for low-income patients suffering from the fatal condition. With no registry of cancer patients, the few cancer facilities available are brimming with patients. The chemotherapy facility at the Civil Hospital and the radiation unit at the Jinnah Hospital often deny treatment to patients, forcing them to seek private care. Only two radiation units have been set up in the city at the Jinnah Hospital and Kiran Hospital, which are operating under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. On the other hand, radiation facilities are available in two to three private hospitals in Karachi where one session of radiation therapy costs Rs15,000 to Rs20,000. In Pakistan, more than 185,000 new cases of cancer and 125,000 deaths are reported each year, with breast cancer, oral cancer and lung cancer among the most common. Medical experts are of the opinion that cancer is becoming increasingly common among the local population however, adequate cancer treatment facilities are missing at the government level, due to which patients are either put on the waiting list for several months or have to pay lakhs of rupees for treatment at a private hospital. Amir, the husband of a woman suffering from breast cancer, confirmed that there was no facility for the treatment of breast cancer at government hospitals. 'When I contacted the Civil and Jinnah Hospitals, they had a long list of female patients. Therefore, we went to multiple private facilities, where my wife's surgery and 17 sessions of chemotherapy alongside tests and medications cost a total of Rs1.7 million. Radiation and chemotherapy are very expensive at private hospitals,' said Amir. Similarly, Mohammad Farid, a 70-year-old prostate cancer patient, was persistently denied treatment at public hospitals. 'During this time my pain worsened, after which I contacted a urologist at a private hospital. The surgery cost Rs200,000, while each of the six chemotherapy sessions cost me Rs40,000. There is no facility for the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases at public facilities. Cancer treatment is beyond the reach of the poor man,' regretted Farid. According to sources of the Express Tribune, out of a total of 44,340 patients who visited the radiology department of the Jinnah Hospital from January to December 2024, only 1,253 were given admission for treatment. Prof. Dr Noor Muhammad Soomro, an oncologist and former Head of the Department of Cancer at the Civil Hospital, confirmed that the few radiation therapy units available in the city received a huge influx of patients due to which many had to wait for months. 'Among men, mouth and throat cancer is most common, while among women, breast cancer is commonly reported. Due to expensive cancer treatment, poor patients seek indigenous methods of cure. If cancer is not treated in time, the patient dies quickly. Cancer is treated in three ways; surgery, radiation and chemotherapy,' informed Dr Soomro. Dr Shumaila Khuhro, Head of Oncology at the Civil Hospital, revealed that the cancer unit had 44 beds, while more than 100 cancer patients were reported daily in the cancer OPD. Dr Nausheen, Deputy Director at the Jinnah Hospital, shared that the cancer unit had 52 beds while nearly 180 cancer patients sought treatment on a daily basis. "The Civil and Jinnah Hospital are the only hospitals in the province where cancer patients are being provided treatment facilities," confirmed Dr Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Jilani, Deputy Director Health Karachi.
India.com
23-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Disaster Averted: Pakistans Nuclear-Capable Shaheen-III Missile Reportedly Crashes Near Nuclear Facility
Pakistan's latest test of its nuclear-capable Shaheen-III ballistic missile on Tuesday, July 22, went allegedly awry, with the missile falling short of its target and its wreckage landing perilously near a nuclear site in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab province. The accident, in which wreckage fell close to civilian habitations in Dera Bugti district, Balochistan, has raised high level questions over Pakistan's military competence and sparked safety concerns among locals. After the failed test, the Pakistani military is said to have imposed a drastic internet blackout in the hit areas, barred media access, and commanded citizens to stay indoors. The Failed Test: What Went Wrong? On 22nd July, Pakistan carried out a test firing of the Shaheen-III missile from the Rakhshani region of Dera Ghazi Khan. But the missile is said to have gone off track, crashing in the Matt region of Dera Bugti district, Balochistan. The impact point was startlingly close to human habitations, only 500 meters away. Missile wreckage fell in the Grapevine Ravine at the Loop Seharani Levy Station, causing a massive explosion. Pakistani Punjabi Army carried out a failed test of Shaheen-III ballistic missile in Republic of Balochistan on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. Locals reported that the missile was fired from Balochistan's territory of Dera Ghazi Khan which landed dangerously close to civilian settlement — Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) July 23, 2025 The explosion was so intense that its noise was said to have been heard 20-50 kilometers away, resonating in sections of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Social media was filled with panic videos of people running in fear. While some alleged that the missile struck the Dera Ghazi Khan nuclear plant, others believed it could be a strike by an enemy drone. The Pakistani military's initial reaction was to cut off internet services, limit media, and instruct residents to remain indoors. Mazhar Shirani, a representative of the DG Khan Commissioner, tried to put the incident down, implying that it was possibly a sonic boom created by a fighter jet, subject to investigation. Shaheen-III: Pakistan's Nuclear Deterrent The Shaheen-III is Pakistan's most powerful missile. It is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 2,750 kilometers, theoretically able to reach key Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Pakistan sees it as an essential component of its defense strategy, especially as a countermeasure against India's military might. Yet, a series of successive test failures is increasingly raising questions over its operational readiness. Dera Ghazi Khan: A Critical Nuclear Hub Dera Ghazi Khan is also the site of Pakistan's largest nuclear complex, a critical facility for uranium storage and processing. In the early 1970s, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) built a pilot plant here with the capability to process 10,000 pounds of uranium per day. This is the most important part of the nuclear weapons program of Pakistan. If the missile did actually hit this complex, the results could have been disastrous, although authorities insist that no damage was done. A History Of Failures This is not a one-off. Pakistan has a disturbing history of failed missile tests: October 2023 (Dera Ghazi Khan) : A earlier Shaheen-III test was also reportedly unsuccessful, resulting in an explosion close to Dera Ghazi Khan, heard 30-50 km away. Reports of a nuclear facility being hit were waved off as a sonic boom by the government. : A earlier Shaheen-III test was also reportedly unsuccessful, resulting in an explosion close to Dera Ghazi Khan, heard 30-50 km away. Reports of a nuclear facility being hit were waved off as a sonic boom by the government. January 2021 (Dera Bugti): A Shaheen-III test went awry, with the missile hitting a residential area of Dera Bugti, demolishing houses and injuring residents. The Baloch Republican Party denounced it as proof of Balochistan serving as a Pakistani military testing ground. A Shaheen-III test went awry, with the missile hitting a residential area of Dera Bugti, demolishing houses and injuring residents. The Baloch Republican Party denounced it as proof of Balochistan serving as a Pakistani military testing ground. 2020 (Babur-II Missile) : A Babur-II missile, which can be launched from land and sea, crashed in Balochistan during a test. : A Babur-II missile, which can be launched from land and sea, crashed in Balochistan during a test. 2022 (Jamshoro): A mysterious missile fell in Jamshoro, Sindh province, with some assuming that it was a failed attempt to retaliate against India's BrahMos accident. These successive failures highlight ongoing technical issues with Pakistan's missile technology. Balochistan's Mounting Protest Groups such as the "Republic of Balochistan" and locals have vigorously protested against the recent test. They claim that: Balochistan as a Testing Ground: The Pakistani military regularly carries out missile and nuclear tests in Balochistan, putting its people at risk. They cite the 1998 nuclear tests at Chagai, where they say even now there is rampant cancer and skin diseases. Forced Eviction: Baloch people are regularly forced to vacate their homes prior to tests, as is habitual in places such as Dera Bugti and Kahan, purportedly to enable resource extraction (gas, minerals). Lack of Safety: Civilians are not notified in advance about missile tests, and their lives are put in grave danger. Sher Mohammad Bugti, spokesman for the Baloch Republican Party, said Pakistan has used Balochistan as its "weapons laboratory," calling on the United Nations and human rights groups to probe. Pakistan's Nuclear Ambitions Pakistan is one of the nine nuclear-armed nations, with a total of 170 warheads in 2025 and possibly up to 200 by 2026. Pakistan's doctrine of "minimum credible deterrence" suggests an implicit first-use strategy towards neighboring countries like India. The Shaheen series with ranges between 1,250 to 2,750 km, with the Shaheen-III developed to neutralize India's Agni-III, are pivotal to this doctrine. Pakistan's missile and nuclear programs are popularly assumed to be designed with extensive Chinese support. The 1970-established Dera Ghazi Khan plant produces as much as an estimated 360 grams of plutonium per year, which is weapons-grade. It is an essential element of its nuclear program. International Ramifications and Unanswered Questions India has kept official mum over the incident, but the incident follows increased India-Pakistan tensions in the wake of India's "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025, a retaliatory action against Pakistani airbases over the Pahalgam terror attack. The Dera Ghazi Khan incident has generated internal debate in India, with some interpreting it as an indication of Pakistan military vulnerabilities. Concerns from the United States are also notable. A U.S. nuclear sniffer aircraft was reportedly observed near Dera Ghazi Khan after the October 2023 blast, fueling speculation of a nuclear mishap. While the U.S. remains officially quiet, it closely monitors Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Baloch organizations have appealed to the UN and UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Pakistan's missile and nuclear programs. Pakistani authorities have rejected any terror strike, and the DG Khan Commissioner has said the blast was probably a sonic boom and reported no damage or casualties. But so many questions to be answered: If a sonic boom, then how did missile wreckage reach Dera Bugti? Why did the army impose an internet and media embargo? Was the nuclear plant really not damaged? The Pakistan Interior Ministry remains silent so far. For India, successive failures of Pakistani missile tests may mean diminished military credibility. Yet, an accident involving a nuclear facility such as Dera Ghazi Khan would be a critical threat that would transcend boundaries. In addition, increasing Baloch anger against Pakistan, possibly catalyzed by such an incident, may destabilize a border region near the India-Pakistan frontier, affecting bilateral relations.
Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan eyes 8,000MW target with Chashma-5 project
The under-construction Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant is expected to contribute 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean, safe and low-cost electricity to the national grid. Chashma Nuclear Power Complex General Manager Engineer Habibur Rehman made these remarks while briefing a group of journalists at the Chashma Nuclear Complex. Informing that the project was advancing swiftly, he said that Pakistan was working towards enhancing its nuclear power generation capacity to 8,000MW, aiming to make nuclear energy a dependable component of the country's sustainable and affordable energy mix. On the occasion, media representatives toured several operational and under-construction units of the facility, where they were briefed on plant performance, safety protocols, technical systems and environmental standards. Engineer Habibur Rehman noted that Pakistan currently ranked among the top 20 nuclear power-producing countries globally, operating six nuclear reactors with a combined generation capacity of 3,530MW. The figure is projected to rise to 4,730 MW following the completion of Chashma-5, he added. He explained that the Chashma-5 project was based on the advanced Hualong One (HPR1000) design, a third-generation pressurised water reactor. The plant was being developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The project's first concrete was poured on December 30, 2024. Highlighting global trends, he noted that nuclear power was regaining international attention. Several developed nations, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and South Korea, which had previously scaled back or planned to phase out nuclear power, were now re-engaging with the sector and actively building new nuclear plants. The general manager said that nuclear energy offered a cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly electricity source. In calendar year 2024, nuclear power accounted for roughly 13% of Pakistan's total electricity supply. In December 2024 alone, its share peaked at around 26.5%.
Business Recorder
28-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Youm-e-Takbeer marks country's strides in peaceful use of nuclear technology for national development
ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, Pakistan marks its historic achievement of becoming a nuclear power on May 28, 1998. While honoring this strategic milestone, the day also highlights Pakistan's remarkable strides in the peaceful use of nuclear technology for national development, health, energy, and agriculture. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the country's premier nuclear organization, continues to lead efforts in leveraging nuclear science for the benefit of its citizens. A prominent example is the PAEC's network of 20 cancer hospitals across the country, offering advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies such as linear accelerators and PET scanners, these hospitals provide comprehensive care to cancer patients. Notably, the NORI Cancer Hospital in Islamabad offers cutting-edge treatment through the Cyber Knife technology, a non-invasive robotic radiosurgery tool available to patients. Approximately 80% of Pakistan's cancer patients receive diagnosis and treatment through PAEC's medical facilities—an enduring testament to its commitment to public health. In the energy sector, Pakistan is making significant contributions to low-cost, clean and sustainable power generation through its six nuclear power plants. These nuclear power plants provide a stable and reliable source of electricity to the national grid, meeting the country's continuous energy demands while reducing environmental impact. Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-1 (C-1) recently achieved a milestone by operating continuously for 400 days, setting a national record and demonstrating operational excellence. Looking ahead, Chashma Unit-5 (C-5), currently under development, is expected to generate 1,200 MW of electricity upon completion, making it the largest nuclear power facility in Pakistan. Agriculture and biotechnology are also at the forefront of PAEC's peaceful nuclear applications. Its affiliated research institutes have played a vital role in enhancing food security through the development of disease-resistant and high-yield crop varieties. These innovations are empowering farmers and improving national agricultural productivity. Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) in Faisalabad is also developing coloured cotton — an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional textile production. NIAB has also earned recognition as an IAEA Collaborating Centre for advanced agricultural research. As Pakistan celebrates Youm-e-Takbeer, it reaffirms its unwavering commitment to utilizing nuclear technology for peace, progress, and prosperity. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission continues to be a cornerstone in national development—empowering lives, powering industries, and promoting sustainability across the country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
