Nobody knows where these beggars come from in such large numbers, who is supporting their rackets.
KARACHI: There are many challenges that our society is currently facing like polio, targeted killings, street crimes, child abuse, harassment of women, political conflicts and conflicts between institutes. In the midst of all these big issues, we tend to forget the ‘smaller’ ones — such as the begging business, which has now become quite an unmanageable problem in Pakistan. There seems to be an increase in the number of beggars on the roads, railway stations, traffic signals, footpaths, corners of streets or overhead bridges. It seems that there is no age requirement to be a beggar in this society — this profession has captured people of every age group.
Begging has become widespread because beggars think that this is the best and easy way to earn money. Though it is true that poverty begets beggars, one can argue that some do it out of sheer laziness — since this profession is now very lucrative.
Nobody knows where these beggars come from in such large numbers, who is supporting their rackets and who is giving them protection. Civil society and government officials should address this problem.
Ali Raza
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2014.
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