Wasim Akram’s Rs250,000 reward for missing pet draws attention

Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram and his wife Shaniera Akram have been reunited with their beloved pet dog, Duke, after launching a public appeal that offered a Rs250,000 reward for information leading to his safe return.
The couple’s emotional search for their five-month-old black German Shepherd attracted widespread attention on social media after Shaniera shared a missing poster on Instagram, urging people to help find the young puppy. The appeal quickly spread across different platforms, with fans, celebrities and animal lovers joining the search.
According to the poster, Duke was last seen in DHA Phase 8, Karachi. The notice described him as a male, solid black, long-coated German Shepherd puppy and announced a cash reward of Rs250,000 for the person who found and safely returned him. It also requested people to check parks, gardens, rooftops, garages, neighbourhoods and speak to local security guards for possible sightings.
Sharing the appeal on Instagram, Shaniera Akram wrote:
“Please help us find our baby boy. Last seen in phase 8 on Sunday. He’s only 5 months old and must be so scared.”
She added that someone may have picked him up believing they were helping him.
“Someone may have picked him up for safety or knows someone who has him. We are offering reward for anyone who can help bring him home, so pls call the number on the poster if you have seen or know anything about our boy Duke.”
Ending the emotional message, she appealed to followers to continue sharing the post.
“Please help us spread the word. We are just devastated.”
The post generated thousands of reactions, with many expressing sympathy for the family and resharing the missing notice in hopes of locating Duke as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, the search ended on a positive note when two individuals found Duke and safely returned him to the Akram family. According to reports, the family honoured its promise and handed over the announced Rs250,000 reward to the people who brought the puppy home safely.
News of Duke’s recovery was welcomed by supporters who had followed the search over the previous days. Pictures of the puppy after his return also circulated online, with many celebrating the happy reunion.
The incident, however, also sparked mixed reactions on social media. While many users congratulated the family and said only pet owners could truly understand the emotional distress of losing an animal, others debated the size of the reward and compared it with broader social issues.
One social media user wrote, “Only a pet lover can understand this pain.”
Another commented, “Wasim Akram should distribute sweets now.”
Others questioned the public attention surrounding the incident, leading to a wider online discussion about pets, privilege and public priorities.
Despite the differing opinions, the outcome brought relief to the Akram family, who thanked everyone who shared the appeal and helped spread awareness. Duke’s safe return marked the end of an emotional search and highlighted how quickly social media can mobilise communities when families seek help locating missing pets.