Corruption is not only eating away government institutions but also playing havoc on international projects for development in Pakistan. In a recent news report, published in Daily Mashriq, the private sale of UNICEF school bags has been revealed in Faqir Abad and Afghan Colony areas of Peshawar.

These bags have been donated to the education department by UNICEF as part of the United Nations’ program for promoting elementary education among poor people’s children in Pakistan. Instead, they are being sold in the open market, at both cheap stuff sellers and peddlers, for a price of 250 to 350 rupees.

The sellers of these bags told the reporters that some man sold them the bags, saying that hundreds of other bags are there to sell. Since these bags are made of durable stuff and appear smart in look, these are selling like hot cakes. Other items like tents, jackets, and bags donated by relief organizations are also being sold in open markets due to the corrupt staff of the concerned departments.

Some time ago, a girls’ high school called Bibi Zainab High School were given computers by the UNICEF. The teaching staff and the principal of the school took the computers home for personal use. It is thus recommended that UNICEF should strictly monitor its donations to make sure they are not misappropriated by the corrupt authorities.