LAHORE – A task on famous action video game PubG spilled into real life in Lahore, where a young foreign national turned a PUBG-inspired plan into bank robbery before police tracked him down.
The robbery took place near Bhatta Chowk in South Cantt. The suspect entered a private bank, pulled out a weapon and held a security guard hostage before forcing another guard to surrender his weapon. Police said the suspect then grabbed Rs726,000 from the bank’s cash counter and escaped with two weapons belonging to the security guards.
Express News
لاہور کے بینک میں واردات کرنے والا ملزم گرفتار، واردات کرنے والا ملزم کو پب جی گیم سے ٹاسک ملا تھا۔@OfficialDPRPP @Lahorepoliceops pic.twitter.com/LWC6cUicdy— Musharaf Ali Shah (@MusharafAliSha1) October 2, 2026
The entire operation lasted just nine minutes, according to DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran, who said the suspect was traced through coordinated efforts by the Safe City Authority and Operations Wing teams.
Police identified the suspect as Subhan, a foreign national who reportedly arrived in Pakistan on September 16. According to DIG Faisal Kamran, the suspect had no previous criminal record. He had previously travelled to Pakistan from the UK and allegedly returned to the country this time after dispute with his parents.
The investigation reportedly found that the suspect was influenced by a video game and allegedly carried out the robbery after receiving a task through PUBG.
Police said the suspect had allegedly prepared an escape plan before carrying out the robbery. According to the DIG, he intended to rent a vehicle and head towards Islamabad after fleeing the bank. However, police managed to trace and arrest him before he could execute the next part of his plan.
The weapon allegedly used in the robbery was also traced during the investigation, with police saying the suspect had purchased it from Sialkot.
The arrest brings the dramatic nine-minute bank heist to a close, while investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s alleged motivation and preparation for the crime.
