The Global Fund has raised concerns about the theft of mosquito nets valued at over Rs 250 million from a government warehouse in Quetta, Pakistan, according to the sources.
In a letter addressed to the Government of Pakistan, the Global Fund has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and the recovery of the stolen nets. The letter, which was also sent to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Balochistan, highlighted the critical state of malaria control in Pakistan.
The stolen mosquito nets were part of a grant from the Global Fund intended to aid Pakistan’s malaria control efforts. The Global Fund had previously issued multiple warnings to the government about the need to insure the grant, as required by the Grant Regulations, stressing that Pakistan is responsible for ensuring the security of the grant.
The theft comes at a crucial time, as Pakistan faces a significant challenge in controlling the spread of malaria, which has surged six-fold since the 2022 floods. The letter also mentioned that Pakistan had requested 2.7 million mosquito nets for 2024-26 to address the growing threat of malaria.
Earlier, mosquito nets worth Rs 300 million were reported stolen from a government warehouse in Quetta. According to health ministry sources, the 368,000 stolen nets, donated by international donors, were intended for distribution in three districts of Balochistan, where 1.8 million nets are still being distributed by an NGO.
The theft was reportedly discovered by the NGO, prompting a visit to Quetta by the CMU team to investigate the matter. An investigation is ongoing, but sources indicated that there have been efforts to cover up the theft.
