Charity Dinner: Imran Bowls Over Dubai

The dashing Khan was in town recently to raise money for his cancer hospital in Pakistan.

The Pakistani community in Dubai pitched in with style for celebrity cricketer turned philanthropist and politician Imran Khan's cancer hospital at a star studded charity dinner organised at the Park Hyatt last weekend.

Khan was in town to raise money for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust which runs the speciality hospital in Lahore. And he was not disappointed. By the end of the day, the telethon, beamed live on television sets across various countries helped Imran raise over Dh1,875,000.

A substantial amount came from magnanimous diners in Dubai, with one individual pledging $1 million (Dh3.67 million).

"Every year cancer takes a heavy toll on human lives in Pakistan.

Until recently, the survival rate for those inflicted by this dreaded disease was very low, but the Shaukat Khanum Cancer has given them hope and a second chance to live," said an emotional Imran Khan, whose mother Shaukat died of cancer in 1984.

Bollywood star Urmila Matondkar, who is an anti-smoking campaigner herself, was the chief guest.

Urmila lauded Imran's efforts and then surprised the gathering by breaking into a song from an old Hindi movie.

"I wish Imran was in Bollywood and we could do a film together," said Urmila.

A performance by Pakistan-based band Unloaded was the highlight of the evening.