City Traffic Police (CTP), in an attempt to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, has arrested as many as 196 beggars during their rounds on the city’s roads. However, professional beggars continue to engage in business and there are still no concrete steps to rout the menace out. A CTP spokesman stated traffic police are trying to eliminate beggars with 52 beggars arrested in June, 47 beggars in July, 128 in August and over 196 in September.
In the past, concerned departments were reluctant to take against the professional begging network. Inspector, CTP Azhar Mahmood stated that special squads with vehicles in both Rawal and Potohar regions are on constant patrol from 8 am to 12 pm. He added that handicapped beggars are handed over to the Edhi Foundation while children up to 14 years of age, are given to the Child Protection Bureau. Despite these aggressive efforts, beggars are still visible in the city’s markets, shopping centers, roads and streets. Several groups occupy Murree Road, mostly women and children.
There remains a dire need for extensive community efforts to ensure a successful and result-oriented drive to produce the required results that may not be produced otherwise.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2011.
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