LAHORE: Lahore Traffic Police has undertaken an initiative aimed at addressing professional begging through rehabilitation, skills development and sustainable livelihood opportunities for deserving individuals to establish a “zero-begging Punjab”.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi chaired a meeting with Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) Managing Director Mobeen Elahi and Alkhidmat Foundation Project Director Muhammad Sanan to develop a coordinated framework for rehabilitation and socioeconomic reintegration of deserving individuals engaged in begging.

During the meeting, it was agreed to launch a pilot rehabilitation project under which the Alkhidmat Foundation will identify 10 deserving male and female beneficiaries in the initial phase.

The Punjab Small Industries Corporation will facilitate the selected beneficiaries by providing soft loans of up to Rs500,000 each to enable them to establish small businesses and transition towards dignified and sustainable sources of income.

The participants further agreed to establish “Jhuggi Schools” in informal settlements across Lahore to promote access to education and social rehabilitation for underprivileged children. Additionally, deserving women, children, and transgender persons will be provided with vocational training — including beautician courses, tailoring, embroidery, and other employable skills — in collaboration with partner welfare organisations.

Speaking on the occasion, CTO Shirazi stated that volunteers from the Alkhidmat Foundation would assist the traffic police in the mapping, profiling, and socioeconomic assessment of individuals engaged in begging.

He added that a comprehensive strategy would also be implemented to identify and dismantle organized professional begging networks and their handlers. He further emphasised that strict legal action would be taken against individuals involved in organised begging rackets and human trafficking under the relevant provisions of the Punjab Vagrancy Laws and Anti-Human Trafficking legislation.

Elahi observed that such collaborative interventions would not only contribute to curbing professional begging but would also facilitate the social and economic rehabilitation of vulnerable families.

It is noteworthy that the Lahore Traffic Police has taken enforcement action against more than 3,500 beggars during the current year.

Wardens demoted: Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi on Monday demoted seven traffic inspectors, dismissed a traffic warden from service and awarded disciplinary punishments to several others as part of a crackdown on negligence, misconduct and corruption in the traffic police.

According to an official statement, the dismissed traffic warden was removed from service for corruption.

The CTO also demoted one traffic inspector to the rank of traffic warden for one year over lack of interest in official duties while six other inspectors were demoted to the rank of traffic warden for two years for concealing facts during the departmental promotion process by submitting false affidavits.

In another action, three traffic wardens posted at the Takamul Testing Centre had their annual increments withheld for two years over negligence in the discharge of their duties.

A senior traffic assistant was demoted to the rank of traffic assistant for allegedly engaging in an unnecessary altercation with a citizen.

Similarly, the annual increments of two traffic assistants were withheld for two years for negligence in official duties and unauthorised absence while one senior traffic warden was penalised with forfeiture of one year’s service.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2026