PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department here on Wednesday arrested 40 beggars and shifted them to Darul Kafala.

A statement issued here said the action was taken on the directives of social welfare minister Hisham Inamullah. It said that 40 beggars, including elderly, children and women, were taken into custody during the operation launched in the city.

The statement quoted Mr Inamullah as saying that the authorities had registered an FIR against the arrested beggars at the University Town police station and shifted them to Darul Kafala.

He said the beggars would be imparted different skills and training like electrician and tailoring at the Darul Kafala so they could stop begging.

He said complaints were also coming from citizens which showed that most of the beggars were also involved in criminal activities, after which the action had become inevitable.

He said 1,146 beggars had been arrested since November last in Peshawar. He urged the citizens to discourage professional beggars to get rid of this immoral activity.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2021