Pakistan's Crisis Deepens: Maryam Nawaz Threatens 10-Year Jail for Manhole Cover Theft

• Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced a new law targeting the rampant theft of manhole covers.
• The proposed legislation includes prison terms of 1 to 10 years for stealing, selling, or buying manhole covers.
• If a death occurs due to a stolen manhole cover, the penalty could be 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 30-40 lakh.
• The increase in manhole cover theft, sold as scrap metal, is linked to Pakistan's worsening economic conditions, inflation, and unemployment.
• Critics view the law as a symptom of governance failure, highlighting the country's struggle to protect basic civic infrastructure amidst economic pressure.