In a surge of social media posts, a claim states that in cash-strapped Pakistan the punishment for the theft of a manhole cover could be 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 50 lakh Pakistani rupees. These claims are false and unverified. No credible government portal, court ruling, or mainstream news outlet corroborates such a penalty, and there is no official document that prescribes a fixed decade-long sentence for manhole cover theft. The numbers appear to derive from sensational rounding and a misreading of petty theft provisions, then spread without context. This fact check explains why the claim spread, and how to verify similar stories in the future. Several Indian media outlets and social media accounts amplified the misinformation by tying the alleged penalty to Pakistan, often with scare quotes about public finances or crime rates. They may append national symbols or borders to imply a universal harsh policy, even though the claim has no basis in Pakistani law or administration. This misattribution misleads audiences by confusing a local municipal issue with a national criminal code and by recycling a sensational figure that does not appear in any official record. In reality penalties for theft hinge on factors like value of the stolen item, circumstances of the crime, and the appropriate charge under the Pakistani Penal Code; there is no single nationwide rule that quantifies punishment as 10 years plus a 50 lakh fine for all manhole cover thefts. How to verify: consult official texts from the Pakistan Penal Code, provincial laws, or credible reporting; look for named statutes, case numbers, and judicial decisions rather than viral posts. Cross-check multiple reputable outlets and beware of posts that rely on unnamed sources or single alarming figures. Conclusion: The specific 10-year sentence and 50 lakh fine are false, misleading, or unverified, and the cross-border linking by some Indian outlets reveals a broader pattern of misinformation that transcends borders.