About a decade ago, during my academic career, we used to go to all kinds of places—restaurants, movie theaters, parks, mosques, shopping centers, hospitals, etc. It was common to see a few beggars here and there, outside the mosques on Fridays, at traffic signals, etc. It was considered a norm or a good deed to donate something to those “needy” people begging at certain places.
However, according to recent data, firsthand knowledge, and personal experience, it seems like beggars have totally infiltrated our society. There is not a single place free of child, adult, and elderly beggars. You cannot go anywhere comfortably without them literally attacking your vehicles and personal space. They will keep chasing you or banging on your car doors until you give them something—and not just anything, at least a hundred-rupee currency note.
Beggary is a complex and multifaceted issue. Here are a few factors contributing directly to the choice of becoming a beggar.
Poverty
Forty-nine percent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. According to the Asian Human Rights Commission’s report, about 11 percent of our total population is begging on the roads, including 1.2 million child beggars.
Out of the poor population, many people choose a convenient escape in the form of beggary, forcing their children to join the trade as well.
Physical Disabilities
People, especially children, born with disabilities or who acquire disabilities also become victims of beggary. Lack of knowledge and resources for the treatment of certain types of disabilities—such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Microcephaly, and Macrocephaly—results in making these individuals a powerful tool for earning money through beggary.
Adults who lose their limbs in accidents sometimes choose to become beggars instead of earning an honorable living.
Unemployment
Due to a rapid rise in population as well as inflation, there are not enough vacancies in the blue-collar industry to accommodate less-educated people, leaving them unemployed. Long-term unemployment puts mental and social pressure on individuals. When the pressure becomes unbearable, some people give up and choose beggary as a profession.
Begging Mafia
Criminal minds in society are always looking for new ways to earn illegal money. Since the poor, unemployed, and physically disabled are the most vulnerable, criminals collaborate to form begging mafias. They recruit these individuals and turn them into professional beggars.
These mafias operate through proper channels and assign roles such as managers (thekedaar), who keep an eye on the beggars to ensure they don’t flee, hide money for themselves, or get into trouble with authorities.
Disabled children are assigned to specific places like hospitals, toll plazas, and shopping centers under the supervision of an adult—usually a female pretending to be their mother—who uses them as tools to collect money.
These mafias collaborate with corrupt politicians and police officers, paying them a fixed amount monthly to prevent intervention in their flourishing business.
The Dark Side of Child Beggary
Among all forms of beggary, child beggary is the worst. Poor, homeless, and unattended children are more prone to abduction. As a result, crime rates increase because these children often become victims of sexual assault, drug addiction, and eventually turn to theft to fulfill their drug needs.
According to a report by Pakistan Tribune in 2024, the average daily income of a beggar ranges from 800 to 2,000 rupees. Beggars earn more than skilled laborers who work hard to earn a living. Currently, there are 38 million beggars in Pakistan, collectively extracting 42 billion US dollars from our GDP per year, making up 12 percent of our total GDP.
Misguided Religious Mindset
One of the biggest factors promoting professional beggary is a misguided religious mindset. As a Muslim nation, we lack a basic understanding of our religion, often misunderstanding the concepts of Zakaat, almsgiving, Fidya, charity, and other religious obligations.
Many religious individuals believe that donating to shrines will make their prayers heard more quickly. As a result, one percent of our total GDP is donated to shrines annually. Pakistan is the most charitable nation in the world, with 98 percent of the population actively donating in the form of cash. This leads to an increasing gap between wealthy beggars and hardworking poor individuals, ultimately causing a rise in suicide and crime rates.
Islam strongly discourages beggary and encourages hard work. Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
“A hard worker is a friend of Allah Almighty.”
Previous Attempts to Eradicate Beggary
In the past, attempts were made to eliminate this deep-rooted disease from society by enacting laws against beggary and establishing rehabilitation homes for beggars, where they were provided with basic services such as boarding, vocational training, and medical treatment.
However, due to the strength of the beggary network, these laws were never implemented effectively. The mafia behind the arrested beggars would either bribe or threaten weak links in law enforcement to get their people released.
The Way Forward
Given how beggary has become a menace in our society, quick and effective measures are needed to ensure the eradication of beggars and their mafias.
Data Collection & Investigation
The government and NGOs should collaborate to collect data about beggars, their hierarchy, and their entire management system.
City-Wise Operation
A city should be chosen as a starting point, a helpline should be established to report beggars, and arrests should be made, placing them in rehabilitation homes. The operation should then expand to another city and continue nationwide.
Public Cooperation
For this plan to succeed, the government needs full cooperation from its citizens. Every individual should participate in this campaign and say NO to donating even a single penny to beggars.
Religious Education Seminars
Recognized scholars should enlighten people on the correct way to spend their money in accordance with Islamic teachings.
Vocational Training Workshops
These should be organized in areas with low education and employment rates, equipping people with skills to earn a living.
No problem has ever been solved by merely sitting and complaining. It is high time for us, as a nation, to play our part in making our environment safe, comfortable, and thriving. We must spend our money wisely by completely boycotting donations to beggars—not just in cash but in any form of charity.
This is the only way forward. Otherwise, the day is not far when we will be internationally recognized as a nation of beggars!