Mazar-e-Quaid goes pink in solidarity with breast cancer patients

KARACHI: The Mazar-e-Quaid on Saturday was illuminated in the pink colour in solidarity with breast cancer patients and survivors.

The Mazar-e-Quaid monument can be observed from various parts of the city but, instead of its white colour, the Mazar is lit up by pink lights on occasion of the Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Chief executive of the Pink Ribbon Campaign Umer Aftab said that his organization marks the 'Pinktober' campaign in October every year to help foster breast cancer awareness and research.

He said that in Pakistan, some 40,000 women die every year because of breast cancer.

Umer further pointed out that about 9.8 million women in Pakistan are at risk of breast cancer. Research shows that, in case of early detection of the disease, the chances of survival are more than 90 percent.

Umer said that the Pink Ribbon campaign was started in the country in the year 2004 and since then there has been a 30 percent increase in the turnout of the patients.

He said that awareness drives have also been initiated in academic institutions.