Pakistan must ensure that the new law aimed at curbing begging abroad does not become a tool for exploiting or harassing the impoverished.
Tabled in the Senate, the bill aims to address the proliferation of Pakistanis begging abroad, arguing the practice has triggered travel restrictions on citizens. In recent months, several states—particularly those from the Gulf—have lodged complaints with Islamabad over a large number of Pakistanis resorting to begging on their soil. Consequently, the states have been rejecting visas of a majority of Pakistanis, endangering the opportunities of citizens with employment offers.
The proposed bill classifies “organized begging” as fraud, defining it as the solicitation for charity through manipulation or inducement. It further states that organized begging constitutes the seeking or accepting of charity at public places; fortunetelling; performing tricks; or begging under false pretenses. Anyone found involved in, or facilitating, such activities faces up to seven years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs. 1 million, or both. It states that any vagrants that create the impression of living off charity also fall under the heading of organized begging. Ostensibly targeting networks that facilitate foreign travel, it also effectively criminalizes begging within Pakistan.
There is no denying the need to dismantle exploitative networks. Supporters of the bill ague severe penalties are necessary to curb criminal practices that often operate behind the façade of street begging. Organized rings, they claim, not only contribute to urban decay but also divert essential resources away from legitimate social support programs. By cracking down on these networks, authorities hope to restore public order and reclaim urban spaces for community use. However, critics caution, such repressive approaches risk punishing those ensnared in poverty through circumstances beyond their control.
Pakistan’s estimated poverty rate is 40%–or roughly 96 million of its 240 million population. For many of these, begging is not a lifestyle choice but a desperate survival strategy. Criminalizing this act may drive such vulnerable individuals further underground, away from opportunities to access aid and rehabilitation. A heavy-handed approach could exacerbate the stigma surrounding poverty, reinforcing cycles of exclusion and deprivation.
Rather than solely resorting to punitive measures, Pakistan must adopt a balanced strategy that addresses both the organized crime of transnational begging networks and the root socioeconomic causes of street begging. Comprehensive social welfare programs, improved access to education and job opportunities, and targeted rehabilitation efforts must accompany any legal measures.
Only by investing in long-term poverty alleviation can Pakistan protect public order while upholding the dignity and rights of its most vulnerable citizens.