IT is a matter of deep embarrassment that Pakistan has become an ‘exporter’ of beggars. Over 5,000 have been deported from Saudi Arabia alone in the last 16 months, while others have been booted out of Iraq, the UAE, Qatar and Malaysia. These and other numbers were shared recently by the interior minister while responding to a question in parliament. He disclosed that nearly 52pc of these deportees hail from Sindh, followed by Punjab and KP. With foreign governments tightening their visa regimes and publicly shaming us by deporting such large numbers, one must ask: what is our own government doing to tackle this crisis at home? While placing over 4,000 beggars on the Exit Control List may appear as decisive action, it addresses only the symptom, not the cause. The reality is that the ‘begging mafia’ thrives not only due to governance failures but also entrenched poverty and the state’s inability to generate viable employment. With millions of beggars across the country reportedly pulling in billions per year, this is not just a social ill, it is a well-oiled economy.

We must break this cycle. To begin with, a crackdown is needed on trafficking networks. If the ‘illegal’ Afghans were rounded up with such vigour, so can such trafficking rings. In addition, the government must rehabilitate those forced into begging through skill development, microfinance initiatives, and targeted social welfare programmes. It would also do well to establish vocational centres in Karachi, interior Sindh and south Punjab, where organised begging is most pronounced. The authorities must impose strict penalties on those who exploit the vulnerable for profit. Provincial governments must play their part by strengthening child protection units and launching sustained anti-begging awareness campaigns at the community level. The public should also realise that their charitable spirit is being exploited by criminals. This disgraceful ‘business’ must end.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2025