KARACHI:
In Pakistan, where unemployment, poverty, and inflation rates are escalating, begging has become a convenient means of survival for many. Pakistan is home to approximately twenty-five million beggars, comprising 2.5% to 11% of the population. The begging mafia views begging as a profitable profession. They choose to beg over other occupations due to its relative profitability, surpassing wages earned through domestic work or menial jobs. While child domestic workers make an estimated Rs. 500-1,500 per month, beggars can earn between Rs. 100 and 10,000 per day.
Current efforts to address this issue have proven insufficient. Police often adopt short-term strategies that do not provide lasting solutions. Furthermore, when bans are imposed on child beggary, other groups, such as the elderly or youth emerge in their place highlighting the strong networks that support this criminal enterprise. Comprehensive data on beggars through collaborative efforts should be compiled to identify and trace the real culprits behind this organised crime.
While poverty is not a crime, resorting to illegal means instead of hard work is a grave offence. By eradicating this curse, we can address several problems and foster progress in our society. I urge the government, NGOs, and citizens to unite and take immediate concrete actions to combat organised beggary. We must create a society where education, employment, and social welfare opportunities prevail, ensuring no one is forced into a life of begging.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2023.
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