The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a province-wide crackdown on professional beggars, with operations set to begin in Peshawar and other districts to curb organized begging networks. The initiative aims to address the growing issue of professional begging while ensuring support for genuinely deserving individuals.
According to an official statement, authorities have already started profiling professional beggars as part of the campaign. The exercise is intended to identify individuals and groups involved in organized begging before launching coordinated operations across the province.
Advisor to the Chief Minister on Social Welfare, Zakat & Ushr, Special Education and Women Empowerment, Malik Liaqat Ali Khan, said professional begging has become a serious social concern. He noted that such activities create inconvenience for the public and reduce the chances of financial assistance reaching people who genuinely need support.
The government said the operation will focus on professional beggars found at busy road intersections, markets, mosques, commercial centres, bus terminals, and other public places. Authorities also plan to identify and dismantle organized groups that have allegedly turned begging into a profitable business.
The advisor stressed that forcing children into begging is a punishable offence under the law. He warned that strict legal action will be taken against those exploiting children, with the Social Welfare Department working alongside police and other relevant agencies to protect vulnerable minors and prosecute offenders.
The campaign will be carried out jointly by the Social Welfare Department, district administrations, police, and other concerned institutions. While taking action against organized begging, the government said it will also focus on rehabilitating genuinely needy and vulnerable individuals. Citizens have been urged not to encourage professional begging and to report cases of child exploitation or organized begging groups to the relevant authorities for prompt legal action.
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