LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved the Punjab Public Utilities Infrastructure Protection Ordinance 2026, introducing stringent penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines, for theft, illegal removal, selling or damaging public utility infrastructure such as manhole covers and streetlights.

The action was taken following a surge in the incidents of theft and vandalism of public installations across the province, particularly the manhole covers, posing serious risks to public safety.

According to the Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department, which initiated the move being the parent department of the Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASAs), development authorities and other entities, the ordinance broadens the legal framework governing the protection of public infrastructure and provides enhanced enforcement powers against organised groups involved in such activities.

Under the ordinance, theft of public installations will carry a prison term ranging from one to three years, along with fines between Rs200,000 and Rs3 million. The illegal removal, purchase or sale of government installations without authorisation will also be punishable with one to three years’ imprisonment and fines ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs3 million.

Damage to public infrastructure will also attract harsher penalties under new ordinance

Under the ordinance, causing any damage to public infrastructure will attract imprisonment of three months to one year and fines between Rs50,000 and Rs200,000.

The ordinance also imposes strict penalties on scrap dealers and re-rolling plants found involved in the purchase or processing of stolen public utility materials. Such offenders may face up to three years’ imprisonment and fines ranging from Rs1 million to Rs10 million.

In cases of repeat offences, imprisonment may extend from three to six years with fines between Rs300,000 and Rs10 million.

Officials say that if damage to public infrastructure results in loss of life, relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code would apply in addition to penalties under the ordinance.

The legal framework was developed by a special team of the housing department to address, what authorities described as organised networks involved in the theft and illegal trade of public infrastructure materials.

Strict enforcement of the ordinance will serve as a deterrent and help safeguard public assets, while improving urban safety and service delivery across Punjab, they say.

Crackdown

The city district administration has launched a major crackdown on those creating artificial price hike in the ongoing holy month of Ramazan.

Field teams, according to a spokesman, sealed two warehouses being used for hoarding essential commodities, including ghee, flour and sugar.

A team led by the assistant commissioner (AC), on a tip-off, conducted raids in Nawan Kot and Gulshan Ravi areas and sealed two godowns being allegedly used for hoarding these commodities by Awan Brother Traders and Hafiz General Store, the spokesman says.

On the other hand, administration’s teams in other parts of the city sealed two shops for not complying with the notified price lists. Fines amounting to nearly Rs1.4 million were also imposed on a number of shopkeepers for selling fruits, vegetables and other essential items at prices above the notified rates.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2026