Organised beggary

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The ever-growing epidemic of beggary in Pakistan, which initially spread to Gulf countries, has now extended to Malaysia as well. In the past three months, Malaysian authorities have arrested and deported 41 Pakistani beggars, a majority of whom were women.

Just last year, the Gulf countries took note of the situation. It is assumed that the denial of Gulf visas to a lot of applicants from Pakistan may have come in the context of curbing beggary. Indulgence in such illegal activities abroad tarnishes an already precarious image of Pakistanis, making the green passport increasingly unenviable.

The trend of begging extending to overseas regions not only harms Pakistan's international reputation but also makes it more difficult for genuine travellers to acquire visas.

In Pakistan, begging culture took root most prominently in urban centres like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, owing to their large populations. Traffic signals, marketplaces, commercial areas and spiritual sites are targeted hotspots for these beggars, who stand in the middle of the roads awaiting cars and passengers.

Reports say that in a population of 240 million, 38 million have turned to begging. To an extent, it's true that much of their presence is a direct result of grave socioeconomic disparity coupled with a job market that is unable to cater to so many people. But it cannot be denied either that organised criminal gangs are involved in the lucrative 'business' of begging in the country.

Anti-begging laws are already in place in the country, and just at the start of this year the government had moved to toughen these laws. But it is the lack of implementation that has rather turned begging into a professional career. It is essential for the government to adopt a dual approach to address this issue.

While there is need for the authorities to come down hard on beggars and their handlers, they should also introduce meaningful social and economic reforms that citizens can rely on, instead of turning to international countries and further complicating the problem.