Pakistan's KP accused of inflating TB cases to unlock aid

Officials in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are investigating allegations that the government’s tuberculosis program inflated patient numbers to unlock donor-linked funding, according to people familiar with the probe.

The claims center on whether false entries were added to official rolls to secure performance-based funding, potentially exposing healthy people to powerful TB drugs.

Sources say false TB case entries were recorded across several districts, including Mardan, Mansehra, Chitral, Kurram, Kohat, Kohistan, Charsadda, Peshawar and Malakand. Some of these districts had no prior history of reported TB cases.

Provincial figures show 58,000 TB cases were reported in 2024. To reach a 2025 target of 61,400 cases under a performance benchmark known as DLI-4, tied to the National Health Support Program (NHSP), staff allegedly added up to 3,000 fabricated cases to inflate the totals.

The NHSP has allocated PKR 35 million to KP's TB Control Program for 2025, with an additional PKR 100 million expected in the following year. Pakistan also receives substantial support from the Global Fund, a major international health financing organization.

PKR 30 million withdrawn

Separate from the case counts, officials are reviewing claims that senior officials of the TB Control Program allegedly profited through various fraudulent means.

In total, the KP TB Control Program managed to withdraw over PKR 30 million under various budget categories from the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) office in June 2025.

Sources revealed that over PKR 10 million was reportedly claimed as expenses for training programs that had already been conducted and funded by the Global Fund, while an additional PKR 10 million was allegedly siphoned off through fraudulent invoices for procurement and fuel-related expenses.

Inquiry underway

When contacted by Nukta, Project Director Dr. Mudassar Shahzad said an internal inquiry is underway into the case-count allegations. He has denied accusations of broader misuse of funds and rejected claims related to training expenses.

On the other hand, sources revealed that the committee formed to investigate the allegations consists largely of staff from the Project Director's own office, undermining the credibility of the process.

The Project Director of the TB Control Program is also reportedly using a non-customs paid Mercedes-Benz vehicle, which is regularly seen parked on official premises.

Severe side effects

Health professionals warn that TB medications carry severe side effects, and administering them to healthy individuals is both medically irresponsible and dangerous.

The Provincial Secretary of Health and National Coordinator of the TB Control Program did not respond to Nukta's requests for comment.