KARACHI, Sept 9: The city government has asked police authorities to vacate the site meant for 'Beggary Home' in Korangi as soon as possible, DCO Mir Hussain Ali said on Thursday.

The Beggary Home had been planned to rehabilitate the destitute who are compelled by circumstances to resort to begging, said the DCO while speaking at a seminar on How can we effectively deal with beggary.

The seminar was held under the aegis of the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) here on Thursday. Mr Ali said the CDGK, in collaboration with any of the reputable NGOs, would help develop skill development-cum-boarding facilities for the beggars found to be deserving ones.

He acknowledged that beggary had now become a profession which was harbouring criminal tendencies whereas the concerned authorities appeared unable to ensure strict implementation of anti-beggary ordinance. In this context, the DCO underlined the need for making the very ordinance punitive, instead of reformative.

The DCO, supporting a submission forwarded from among the audience, said efforts were needed to identify indigenous skills of the beggars belonging to or operating in Karachi, was search of sustenance.

"The occupation or craft they are good in, could be turned into a source of their economic independence, ultimately helping them not to compromise their responsibilities," said Mr Ali.

He also agreed to a proposal to ensure meaningful involvement of UC-level nazims and councillors to make the forthcoming anti-beggary campaign effective. Citing that poverty and unemployment were the major issues and that genuine poverty level existed in Pakistan, he referred to varied measures adopted by the government at different levels to address the same.

The DCO referred to the Baitul Maal and Zakat schemes and said they were designed to help the destitute. Others who spoke on the occasion included Iqbal Zubedi, EDO (Community Development), Anwar Kazmi Secretary, Edhi Welfare Trust and Col (r) Ehteshamuddin, Coordinator, anti-beggary campaign.

In their presentations, they called for concerted efforts to create public awareness of the menace. Mr Zubedi referred to a study conducted by his department last year suggesting that out of the 0.5 million to 0.6 million Karachi-based beggars, a mere 10 to 15 per cent were deserving people.

The study had identified the professionals simultaneously indulged in encroachment of state land working as agents of unscrupulous builders, drug trade, espionage, child-lifting, prostitution, etc.

Col (r) Ehteshamuddin stressed on involving NGOs, certain scout groups, civil defence and fire brigade department in the anti-beggary campaign, saying that this held immense importance during the months of Rajab, Sha'aban to Ramzan as hordes of beggars could be witnessed moving towards Karachi.

Pointing out that they indulged in criminal activities too, and posed even security threat, he suggested that the issue be address on an urgent basis.

For the genuine destitute and needy, he suggested a comprehensive plan under which they could be trained and rehabilitated as self-employed dignified individual.

Mr Anwar Kazmi was of the view that the issue of beggary would be there as long as people were inclined and willing to offer alms and charity to such people. According to him, people should be convinced on redirecting their charity towards the rehabilitation of destitute who require and deserve financial help but unable to expose themselves as needy. -APP