KARACHI: As many as 79 professional beggars were arrested in different parts of the city over the past two days as the city administration continued its crackdown on organised begging.

Officials said that Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi had directed all deputy commissioners to take strong steps to stop beggary and ensure that the beggars, who have now gone into hiding due to the campaign, do not return to the practice.

They added that the deputy commissioners had been asked to submit reports on their actions against professional beggars.

Officials also shared that a total of 205 professional beggars had been arrested across the city since the anti-begging drive began in March.

The city administration has also decided to set up a rehabilitation centre to help prevent begging, and efforts are underway to find a suitable location for it.

The commissioner has asked all deputy commissioners to take strict and effective measures to curb begging, as professional beggars are causing trouble for people, especially at traffic signals, intersections, and highways, which is also affecting the flow of traffic.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2024