Manhole cover theft in Pakistan’s Punjab to attract 10 years’ imprisonment !

50 lakh Pakistani rupees fine (approximately ₹15 lakh Indian rupees)

Maryam Nawaz Sharif

Lahore (Punjab) – Owing to the surge in incidents of theft of manhole (sewer) covers, the Punjab provincial government in Pakistan has enacted a law prescribing punishment of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 50 lakh Pakistani rupees (approximately ₹15 lakh Indian rupees).

10 years in jail for a manhole cover? 😲

Pakistan’s Punjab CM introduces a PKR 50 Lakh (5M) rupee fine for theft as the crisis deepens.

When basic infrastructure becomes a target for survival, the elite’s mansions are usually next. 📉🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Ow6gcHIIs

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) February 7, 2026

This decision has been taken by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. In a post on X, she stated, “All manholes in Punjab have now been covered. Please do not steal the covers. Open manholes are death traps.”

People stealing manhole covers due to extreme poverty !

As Pakistan stands on the brink of economic bankruptcy, increasing destitution among the people has led to a rise in theft-related incidents. In Punjab province, cases of stealing iron manhole covers and selling them as scrap have increased sharply. Officials have stated that the scale of theft has become so severe that covers installed during the day are often found stolen by night.

Editorial Perspective

In Pakistan, such incidents are only going to increase now. If, in the future, people begin breaking into the homes of politicians, military officers and administrative officials to carry out looting, it should not come as a surprise.