The Begging Industry: A Disturbing Reflection of Pakistan’s Economic and Social Realities

Beggars - The News Today - TNT

By Umer Sajjad

Criticism of Pakistan’s economic model has long included the argument that the country has failed to promote indigenous industries or signature products that could be exported to other countries.

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Ironically, however, there is one “industry” that disproves this criticism in a rather disturbing way: the begging industry. Pakistan’s begging industry has grown into a significant economic force, generating an estimated $42 billion annually, an amount that constitutes over 12% of the nation’s GDP. This sector has evolved into a structured business, with organized groups controlling prime begging locations across major cities in the country.

To put it into perspective, out of the 230 million people living in Pakistan, an alarming 37.8 million are beggars. This means that approximately 16.5% of the population is involved in this industry. These figures are not just disturbing but they are a stark reminder of the harsh realities facing our society.

In big cities like Karachi, a beggar can earn up to Rs. 2,000 per day, while in Lahore and Islamabad, the amounts are Rs. 1,400 and Rs. 1,000, respectively. On average, a beggar in Pakistan earns Rs. 850 per day. When you add it all up, the people of Pakistan collectively pay approximately 32 billion rupees to beggars every day.

This situation presents a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the sheer number of beggars highlights the socio-economic issues that drive people to beg. On the other hand, these 38 million non-productive individuals are consuming $42 billion that could otherwise be channeled into productive activities.

Worse still, their consumption of goods and services, without contributing to their production, fuels inflation, which reached a staggering 48% in mid,2023.

The problems don’t end there. This “industry” has even been exported to other countries, bringing not wealth but insult and embarrassment to Pakistan. On July 30, 2024, the Senate Standing Committee for Overseas Pakistanis was informed by Overseas Ministry Secretary Zulfiqar Haider that a staggering 90% of the beggars arrested in foreign countries were of Pakistani origin.

Many of these beggars exploit pilgrim visas to travel to countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq. Japan has also recently emerged as a new destination for such “visitors.”

This export of beggary is run by a partnership between professional beggars and agents, mostly based in South Punjab and Kashmir. The operation works on a model where beggars are given targets and sent abroad.

Upon their return, the earnings are split between them and the agents who funded their travel, covering visa and ticket costs.

The consequences of this thriving industry are far-reaching. Economically, the money given to beggars does not contribute to the production of goods or services; instead, it simply drives up the prices of existing goods and services, exacerbating the country’s inflation problem.

Socially, Pakistani beggars caught abroad become a source of national embarrassment. They cast a shadow over the 12 million hardworking Pakistanis living overseas, who are true assets to the country.

To curb this already widespread issue, the government must take serious and immediate action. The organized begging syndicates need to be dismantled with the full force of the law.

Serious legal action should be taken under the Beggary Prevention Act of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Beggars involved in these syndicates should be arrested, and their passports seized when attempting to travel abroad.

In recent years, there have been some efforts by law enforcement agencies. For instance, 16 beggars were arrested from a flight that was about to take off from Multan Airport to Jeddah.

In July this year, more than 2,000 passports and ID cards were blocked by the government after identifying the holders as beggars or pickpockets attempting to move abroad. According to the Interior Ministry, over 44,000 suspected beggars have been offloaded from flights in the past 2.5 years.

While these efforts are commendable, they need to be scaled up to effectively address this source of national shame. The government must also focus on creating more legitimate economic opportunities for those driven to beg, ensuring that this “industry” no longer has a reason to thrive.

The begging industry in Pakistan is not just an economic issue—it’s a reflection of deeper societal problems that must be addressed if we are to build a prosperous and dignified future for our nation.

(Umar Sajjad is an A-level student at LGS Gulberg, Lahore. He can be reached at umerrsajjad4929@gmail.com)

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