PM Inaugurates Advanced Cancer Facility in AJK

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated a state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility in Muzaffarabad, marking a major boost to healthcare services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and easing long-standing hardships faced by patients forced to seek treatment outside the region.

The newly launched Kashmir Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy (KINOR) will provide cancer diagnosis, treatment and radiotherapy services under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) network. According to Dawn, the centre becomes the 21st PAEC-run cancer facility in the country, extending specialised care to a region that has long remained underserved.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister called healthcare “the most meaningful form of public service,” stressing that patients from AJK had for years travelled to Islamabad and other cities, often at great financial and emotional cost. Drawing from his own experience as a cancer survivor, he emphasised the importance of early detection and timely treatment, saying these were key to saving lives.

Tribune reported that around 1,000 cancer patients from AJK travel annually to other provinces for treatment, while nearly 60% reach hospitals at advanced stages of the disease. Officials believe the new institute will significantly reduce these numbers by providing modern care closer to home.

PAEC Chairman Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar briefed the prime minister on the facility’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities, noting that PAEC centres currently treat nearly 80% of cancer patients nationwide. He said the Muzaffarabad centre is equipped with advanced technology and trained specialists to handle complex cases.

AJK leadership welcomed the initiative, calling it a long-overdue step toward health equity. The facility is also expected to create local employment and raise awareness about cancer prevention and screening.

The opening of KINOR signals a broader push to decentralise specialised healthcare in Pakistan, particularly in remote and mountainous regions where access has remained limited for decades.

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