KPK Government Shuts Down 12 Rehab Centers Amid Financial Crisis, 182 Staff Members Dismissed

Peshawar: In a major blow to public health services, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has closed 12 drug rehabilitation centers due to financial constraints. According to a notification issued by the Social Welfare Department, 182 staff members, some of whom had served for over five years, have also been terminated.

These centers, spread across various districts of the province, had provided rehabilitation services to more than 75,000 drug addicts. As per the announcement, the staff will be considered officially dismissed after June 30.

While the department claims to have submitted proposals for the revival of both the centers and the affected staff, no concrete recovery plan has yet been shared with the public — triggering concerns about the state’s commitment to combating drug addiction.