Gutter law in Pakistan: 10-year jail, Rs 50 lakh fine for manhole cover theft
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.
Explaining the proposed law, Maryam Nawaz added: “We are bringing a law in Punjab under which anyone who steals a manhole cover, anyone who sells a manhole cover, or anyone who buys a manhole cover will face imprisonment ranging from 1 to 10 years. Also, if someone dies because of the theft of manhole cover, then there will be imprisonment of 10 years along with a fine of up to Rs 30-40 lakh.”
The chief minister, who is also the daughter of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said the crackdown was necessary as uncovered manholes had become a serious public safety threat.
According to a report in Express Tribune, a mother and her infant daughter died after falling into an open manhole in Lahore in January. In another incident, the body of a toddler was recovered near the Nipa Flyover in Karachi in late 2025.
The report said petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court, alleging criminal negligence and seeking Rs 250 million in compensation for the victims’ families.
It further noted that in Lahore alone, around 10,000 manhole covers are stolen or damaged every year, with drug addicts frequently targeting iron covers to sell as scrap. The scale of the thefts has made it difficult for residents to find a covered manhole while moving around the city.
Alarmed by the rising incidents and mounting public outrage, the Punjab provincial government has now moved to introduce stringent legislation to curb the bizarre but deadly crime.
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.
Explaining the proposed law, Maryam Nawaz added: “We are bringing a law in Punjab under which anyone who steals a manhole cover, anyone who sells a manhole cover, or anyone who buys a manhole cover will face imprisonment ranging from 1 to 10 years. Also, if someone dies because of the theft of manhole cover, then there will be imprisonment of 10 years along with a fine of up to Rs 30-40 lakh.”
The chief minister, who is also the daughter of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said the crackdown was necessary as uncovered manholes had become a serious public safety threat.
According to a report in Express Tribune, a mother and her infant daughter died after falling into an open manhole in Lahore in January. In another incident, the body of a toddler was recovered near the Nipa Flyover in Karachi in late 2025.
The report said petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court, alleging criminal negligence and seeking Rs 250 million in compensation for the victims’ families.
It further noted that in Lahore alone, around 10,000 manhole covers are stolen or damaged every year, with drug addicts frequently targeting iron covers to sell as scrap. The scale of the thefts has made it difficult for residents to find a covered manhole while moving around the city.
Alarmed by the rising incidents and mounting public outrage, the Punjab provincial government has now moved to introduce stringent legislation to curb the bizarre but deadly crime.