• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Punjab fast-tracks safety net installation in open manholes.
  2. 'Dhakkan' app launched to report missing manhole covers.
  3. 'Gutter Law' imposes strict penalties for manhole theft.

Pakistan’s Punjab has been battling the theft and disappearance of manhole covers, locally known as 'dhakkan', for a long time, leaving open manholes that can pose serious and potentially life-threatening risks to residents, particularly children.

To tackle the problem, the Punjab government has now stepped up its safety measures, fast-tracking the installation of safety nets inside open manholes across Punjab.

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Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed all district administrations and municipal bodies to immediately ensure high-quality safety nets and durable manhole covers are installed across every street, neighbourhood and main road.

“To protect and for the safety of every citizen, especially our innocent children, across Punjab, the installation of safety nets inside open manholes is underway on a fast-track basis,” the CM said.

“Zero tolerance for negligence when it comes to public safety. Hopefully this will be a theft-resistant solution,” she added.

What Is The 'Dhakkan' App?

Alongside the physical safety measures, the 'Dhakkan' app is being used in Pakistan to report missing manhole covers. 

The app allows people to report an uncovered or missing manhole by taking a photograph and submitting it through the platform. The information can then help the concerned authorities identify the location and take action.

The digital reporting system is aimed at making it easier to flag dangerous open manholes before they result in accidents.

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Punjab's 'Gutter Law' 

The latest safety drive comes months after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced Punjab’s 'Gutter Law' in February 2026, aimed at tackling the theft, sale and purchase of manhole covers.

In a viral video, Nawaz was seen warning people who are stealing, buying, or selling manhole covers of strict punishment.

"Ham subh laga ke jate hain, sham tak gayab ho jata hai. Gutter ke dhakan chori na kare (We fix the manhole covers in the morning; by night they are gone. Don't steal manhole covers," she said, lamenting the growing problem of manhole cover theft.

"Anyone who steals, sells, or buys manhole covers will face 1 to 10 years in prison, and if it results in someone's death, the punishment will be 10 years' imprisonment along with a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh (Pakistani rupees)," she added.

As per media reports, the thefts have been linked to poor economic conditions, with the manhole covers containing iron rings weighing roughly 30 kilograms that can fetch money in scrap markets.

The latest safety nets, durable covers and the 'Dhakkan' app are part of Punjab’s wider effort to address the problem of missing manhole covers and reduce the danger they pose to the public.

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