DERA GHAZI KHAN:
A major scandal involving the theft and illegal sale of government medicines has been uncovered in Dera Ghazi Khan, leading to the arrest of eight individuals, including Health Department employees.
According to officials, the arrests followed the interception of a government employee, Parvez, who was caught smuggling government medicines to Peshawar.
Authorities recovered medicines worth millions of rupees. The case, registered under an FIR at the Gadai police station, has been transferred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and senior health officials for further investigation.
Over the past two days, an investigative team led by ACE Circle Officer Malik Abdul Majid and Chief Drug Inspector Faisal Mehmood Khan raided the Basic Health Unit in Sarwarwali.
Large quantities of medicines, including Diagnostic Testing Laboratory (DTL) supplies, were seized. Three rooms at the Sarwarwali Health Centre and two rooms at the District Health Office have been sealed as part of the probe.
Health Department sources revealed that the stolen medicines included 1,400 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) supplements for malnourished children, with an estimated value of Rs1 billion.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a widespread network of individuals, including government health officials, has been smuggling medicines from hospitals and selling them in Peshawar, Lahore, and Quetta.
The ring, operating for the past six years, allegedly obtained medicines through corrupt deals with employees at various hospitals and health centers across the country.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment has arrested key suspects, including Ali Usman and Zafar from Lahore, and Parvez, Ikramullah, Athar Sheerani, Bashir Ahmed, Amir Taimur, and Siraj from Dera Ghazi Khan.
The accused were presented before Area Magistrate Muhammad Ashan, where the investigation officer requested a 12-day remand.
However, the court granted only a two-day physical remand, requiring the suspects to be produced again on March 8.
Authorities have indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
