Asad Sohaib

Pakistani authorities are investigating an organised network accused of buying large quantities of human placentas from hospitals, processing them illegally and exporting them for use in anti‑aging injections. The Federal Investigation Agency seized substantial stocks of dried placentas and made multiple arrests while probing potential collaboration by hospitals, waste‑management firms and immigration officials. Experts explain that placenta trade is illegal in Pakistan, where strict rules govern its disposal as hazardous medical waste. Despite this, global demand for placenta‑derived products is rising, particularly in the cosmetic and supplement sectors, though scientific evidence for anti‑aging benefits remains limited. The article also highlights similar illicit trade in China and longstanding cultural and medical uses of placenta extracts.