Influx of beggars as Ramazan nears

Beggars have started pouring in Karachi from the smaller towns and villages of Sindh, south Punjab and other parts of the country as the month of Ramazan is round the corner. They have set up their shanties in different areas of the city.

Charity witnesses a significant increase during Ramazan, including meals for the needy at sunset, the time of breaking the fast.

According to estimates, there are more than 130,000 local beggars in Karachi and 300,000 beggars come from other cities every year before Ramazan.

The numbers have increased further in the wake of inflation and unemployment. There are also criminals among the beggars who come from other cities. As a result, the crime rate goes up by more than 60 per cent during the month of Ramazan. The city already has alarmingly high rate of robberies and street crimes while arrival of beggars along with the criminals poses serious security threat to the Karachiites.

The Sindh government announces crackdown against beggars every year, but practically no action is taken against them. During the Karachi operation, some federal investigative agencies had sent a report that the local police did not have any record of beggars living in the slums and suburbs of Karachi, as well as coastal areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2023.