MULTAN, Jan 21: A bag full of gold and silver coins was recovered during the process of removing debris of an old structure in the Cantonment area, said the Cantonment Board executive officer on Sunday.

Faheem Zafar said the coins spread on the ground soon after the tractor blade hit the bag and tore it apart. Many people rushed to the site and fled after looting the coins.

“I visited the site after hearing the news, and the people present there confirmed it,” Safar said

He said fire-brigade staff had been deputed at the site to keep the people away from it, adding “We will do excavation of the site carefully from Monday to see if more coins were there”.

Quoting witnesses, he said some of the coins had year 1886 embossed on them.

He said it was learnt that some people had sold out the coins to jewellers.

“We are gathering information about the incident, and a strict action will be taken against all those who have looted the coins.”—APP