Multan: In a brazen overnight theft, more than 5,500 kilograms (150 maunds) of mangoes were stolen from four orchards in the Nawabpur area of Multan, leaving local growers shocked and demanding justice.
According to police, some of the stolen fruit was recovered and one suspect was arrested during follow-up operations. However, the case has stirred controversy after the registered FIR reportedly listed only 25 maunds of mangoes, ignoring the losses claimed by the three other affected orchard owners.
Victims allege that police pressured them to settle the matter privately, refusing to fully acknowledge the scale of the theft. Growers have now appealed directly to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, seeking her intervention for fair investigation, proper compensation, and better protection of farms during the harvest season.
Local farming associations have also condemned the incident, saying such thefts threaten the livelihood of orchard owners and damage Pakistan’s reputation as a leading mango producer. Calls have grown for stronger patrols and security measures to protect valuable crops, especially during peak harvesting months.
