Business of begging

It is a damning indictment of our national failure that begging has become one of the most organised and lucrative underground economies in Pakistan. Defence Minister Khwaja Asif's recent revelation that approximately 22 million beggars are earning a staggering Rs42 billion annually should jolt authorities into action.

The rise of professional begging cartels has now become a matter of national embarrassment. These networks - often operated with precision and mafia-like discipline - recruit, transport and place beggars in urban centres and even abroad. It is now increasingly clear that large-scale begging rings are operating across Pakistan, often trafficking vulnerable individuals abroad to beg in foreign cities. While these activities are illegal and ethically indefensible, they do produce an uncomfortable irony: funds earned through these means are remitted back to Pakistan, technically adding to the country's foreign exchange reserves. However, any benefit from such remittances is both short-sighted and morally problematic. A country cannot, and must not, rely on exploitative or criminal means to prop up its remittance inflows. The cost to Pakistan's image abroad is immense. The deportation of Pakistani nationals for begging stains the reputation of legitimate workers and complicates diplomatic and labour relations with host countries. Imagine, around 4,000 beggars were deported by Saudi Arabia alone in the last three years, according to FIA. The state must move beyond simply blacklisting individuals and instead invest in breaking the networks that operate these exploitative rings. At the same time, targeted rehabilitation and vocational training programmes must be introduced to provide sustainable livelihoods for those at risk of falling into this cycle.

Moreover, efforts should be made to convert this informal and exploitative remittance stream into a legal and productive one. With proper training and placement, individuals could be channelled into legitimate employment abroad - contributing to Pakistan's remittance economy without the associated shame and legal risks.