ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s The Indus Hospital (TIH) denied allegations on Saturday that evidence of large-scale fraud had been uncovered in its tuberculosis (TB) program by Switzerland-based ‘The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,’ after news reports a day earlier said the Fund had cut its grant to the hospital following an investigation that uncovered $4.2 million in non-compliant expenses.
The Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than $4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries, including Pakistan, to fight tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria. It has disbursed over $697 million to Pakistan since 2003, and is the country’s biggest donor for HIV/AIDS and TB.
A report that is available with Arab News was published following an investigation by the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector General into procurement fraud activities committed by The Indus Hospital TB Program in Pakistan between January 2016 and December 2018. The source of the investigation is a whistle-blower as per the report.
In an email exchange between Arab News and the Global Fund, the organization said the Indus Hospital TB program had been cut off as a recipient of their grant as of Dec. 31, 2020.
In response to these allegations, TIH said on Saturday the investigation’s report was still in draft form, and that the hospital would continue to be the principal recipient of The Global Fund’s grants in Pakistan.
“The report published in media is still in draft form and yet to reflect the feedback of various stakeholders including Government of Pakistan,” the statement from Indus Hospital’s CEO, Abdul Bari Khan, said.
“Media reports also mention that The Global Fund has discontinued all its grants to TIH. This information is also not true as TIG continues to be the principal recipient of The Global Fund grants in Pakistan with an increase of scope (from 18 to 36 districts) and budget,” the statement continued.
Arab News reported in August last year that The Global Fund had expressed dissatisfaction over the utilization of its grants in Pakistan and decided to invoke the Additional Safeguard Policy (ASP) to ensure “accountable use” of the funds.
Pakistani hospital denies Global Fund’s allegations of fraud in tuberculosis program
https://arab.news/pqk3s
Pakistani hospital denies Global Fund’s allegations of fraud in tuberculosis program
- Reports on Friday said the TB grant to hospital had been cut off following investigation that uncovered $4.2 million in fraud
- TIH says investigation report still in draft form and hospital remains principal recipient of The Global Fund’s grants
Punjab tells court 17 killed during Basant kite-flying festival this month
- Report by provincial authorities says electrocution, rooftop falls among leading causes
- Festival was revived this year after nearly two decades of ban over safety concerns
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government on Wednesday informed the Lahore High Court 17 people were killed in Lahore during the Feb. 6–8 Basant kite-flying festival, which was revived this year after nearly two decades of restrictions.
Basant, a traditional Punjabi spring festival marked by rooftop kite flying, was banned in Punjab after repeated fatalities linked to metallic or chemically treated kite strings, electrocution from power lines, rooftop falls and injuries to motorcyclists.
The provincial government revived the festival this year under regulatory measures that included restrictions on hazardous kite string and enforcement protocols aimed at preventing injuries.
“It is respectfully submitted that during kite flying festival 2025, 17 casualties have been reported in District Lahore due to electrocution (3), falling down from rooftop (12) and trees (2),” according to a supplementary report submitted in compliance with a court order dated Feb. 17.
The supplementary report was filed by provincial authorities in response to proceedings initiated by the Judicial Activism Panel against the Province of Punjab. Further hearings in the matter are expected before the Lahore High Court.
The government had banned metallic or chemical-coated killer strings for the Basant festival this year.
Kites and strings had to bear individual QR codes so they could be traced and motorcyclists had to attach safety rods to their bikes to fend off stray thread.
Some 4,600 producers registered with authorities to sell kites and strings, while rooftops with 30 or more revelers also had to be registered and dozens of roofs were declared off-limits after inspections.
