PESHAWAR – Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have launched an investigation after hundreds of soap bars, donated by UNICEF for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, were found being sold illegally in Peshawar’s Faqeerabad market.
During a raid conducted by Additional Assistant Commissioner Azimullah Mehsud, over 200 soap bars labeled “Not for Sale” were seized. These soaps were originally intended for public distribution as part of a hygiene awareness initiative tied to the national polio campaign.
Officials discovered that the products were not only being sold in local markets but also listed on Facebook Marketplace. The suspect reportedly admitted to having more stock and offered to supply an additional 3,000 bars. According to authorities, the soaps were being sold at Rs. 40–45 each, repackaged at low cost, and distributed to areas in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad and cities within Pakistan such as Dera Ismail Khan.
The incident raises serious concerns over corruption and misuse of public health resources, especially given Pakistan’s recent struggle with a rise in polio cases — 74 reported in 2024, and 13 so far in 2025, according to the national polio eradication program.
“This case is under active investigation and being pursued according to proper legal channels,” said Circle Officer Humayun Khan from the KP Anti-Corruption Department. Authorities have vowed a thorough probe into how these donated goods entered the black market.
