PESHAWAR: Officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are investigating the alleged sale of soap bars—meant for the country’s polio eradication campaign and supplied by UNICEF—at a market in Peshawar. The probe was launched after more than 200 soap bars labelled “not for sale” were seized from the Faqeerabad market in the provincial capital, according to Additional Assistant Commissioner Azimullah Mehsud. Acting on a tip-off, local authorities discovered the UNICEF-tagged soaps being diverted into the open market. Preliminary findings suggest the consignment originated in Sindh province. A shopkeeper was arrested on June 25 for allegedly selling the soap bars both in the local market and through Facebook Marketplace. "According to the initial investigation, the suspect told us he sourced the soaps from Sindh,” Mehsud said. “He also claimed to be an Afghan national and admitted to selling the products online.” During the raid, authorities recovered three cartons containing 216 bars of soap. Mehsud noted the suspect also claimed to have additional stock. “Locals were buying the bars for Rs40 to Rs45 each, repackaging them for Rs3, and then distributing them to areas including Jalalabad in Afghanistan, as well as various parts of Pakistan like D.I. Khan,” Mehsud explained. The suspect reportedly offered to supply an additional 3,000 bars, prompting officials to involve the KP anti-corruption department to trace his wider network. Arab News reached out to UNICEF communication specialist Zia-ur-Rehman for comment, but did not receive a response. Polio, a paralyzing disease with no cure, can only be prevented through vaccination. While Pakistan saw a steep decline in polio cases over recent decades, the country experienced a resurgence in 2024, with 74 cases reported. So far this year, 13 new cases have been confirmed, according to Pakistan’s polio program. The KP anti-corruption department plans to send an open letter to both UNICEF and Sindh authorities to seek further clarification and cooperation in the investigation. Humayun Khan, circle officer for the anti-corruption department in Peshawar, confirmed the case is under active investigation. “This will follow proper procedures,” he said. “It will take time.”
