The Punjab Cancer Registry was set up in February 2005 to determine population-level cancer statistics in the region. Initially, attempts were made to collect information on cancer patients from across the province of Punjab. However, effective July 1, 2008, the Registry began collecting data on cancers diagnosed and treated among residents of the Lahore district.

In 2014, the Registry expanded to four additional districts of Punjab including Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Nankana Sahib. In 2016, the Registry included Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot and Narowal districts. In 2018, the Registry included Okara, Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi/Islamabad districts.

Subsequently, Multan, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, and Chiniot, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Wazirabad, Murree, Taunsa, Layyah, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur districts were added and the plan is to include other districts in due course of time.

At present, the Registry has around 55members in over 30 participating institutions.

The Central Office of the Registry is located within the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan. The Registry is sponsored by the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust.