Gutter law in Pakistan: 10-year jail, Rs 50 lakh fine for manhole cover theft
India Today
Pakistan's Punjab government, led by Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has proposed a tough "Gutter Law" with up to 10 years' jail and fines of Rs 50 lakh to curb rampant manhole cover thefts that have turned uncovered drains into deadly hazards.
Pakistan’s Punjab province has proposed a tough new law prescribing up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh for stealing manhole covers, amid a surge in such thefts that authorities say have turned uncovered drains into deadly hazards.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the proposed legislation, informally dubbed the “Gutter Law”, after repeated incidents of manhole covers being stolen soon after installation.
“All manholes are being covered across Punjab yet again and for the umpteenth time. Pls do not steal them. Uncovered manholes are death traps,” Maryam Nawaz said in a post on X.
An unusual crime wave of manhole cover thefts has gripped cash-strapped Pakistan, with many linking it to the country’s ongoing economic crisis. Manhole covers, typically made of metal, are allegedly being stolen and sold as scrap to earn quick money. Officials admit the thefts have become so frequent that covers installed during the day often disappear by the next morning.
In a video message that has since gone viral on social media, the chief minister warned of strict punishment not only for those who steal manhole covers, but also for anyone involved in selling or buying them.
“Hum gutter ke dhakan din mein laga kar jate hai, wo raat ko chori ho jate hai. Gutter ke dhakan chori na kare,” she said in the video.
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Pakistan's Punjab government, led by Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has proposed a tough "Gutter Law" with up to 10 years' jail and fines of Rs 50 lakh to curb rampant manhole cover thefts that have turned uncovered drains into deadly hazards.
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