It is one of the most organised, fast-growing and lucrative enterprises around, especially during the month of Ramazan, when the professionals associated with it catch buses, trains, and even flights, to reach their headquarters — the main cities — where there is a need to prop up manpower to help roll in more business.

They are the beggars who know exactly what they want and how to get it, no matter how many times we roll up the window or say, “Muaf karo baba”. Something or the other they say or do ‘activates’ the guilt in us and we hand out a coin or two to them. You lose, they win… yet again!

That’s how they thrive. Generally, the issues leading to poverty such as inflation, illiteracy and joblessness are not the reasons behind their demand for charity. For them, begging for alms is all a part of the day’s work. “I know what they are all about and resist giving them anything, but then when they keep persisting and refuse to budge from in front of me I just give them something to get some respite,” says Amina, a housewife. “Then, when I see one of their children looking longingly at anything my child is having, I feel guilty again,” she says. “I know it is wrong, but what can I do?”

Another gentleman who also believes that beggars are an undeserving lot says, “What can we do about them when the people in authority are allowing this menace to spread? We have no choice but to give alms or get harassed by the mob!”

Commissioner Karachi Roshan Ali Shaikh claims that the authorities are making the efforts to control the nuisance of beggary in the city. The issue that was once the problem of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has now solely fallen into their lap after the change in the local government and with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) coming into existence.

“On the first of Ramazan we arrested around 80 beggars in Karachi under the Vagrancy Act,” the Commissioner Karachi informs, “And just last week on Wednesday and Friday we caught another 18 and 19 of them,” he adds.

“Basically we want to uproot this begging mafia and their organisation that’s responsible for bringing so many beggars to Karachi during the holy month. For this we know that just getting them arrested isn’t good enough,” he points out, “So we are now sending them to the Edhi Home, where they are rehabilitated before being set free,” he says.

Asked how they can tell apart a local beggar from the ones who are only visiting for the duration of the month, he says, “Well, they are all professionals and we are cracking down on whoever we can get our hands on which has made a bit of a difference, but not much. Now we are also keeping a watchful eye for their contractors through various intelligence sources.”

Shaikh also added that there are various aspects that they have to be careful about when confronting beggary here, such as the sympathy factor associated with the beggars who beg for alms outside mosques. “So the ones we have picked up so far are from the main roads and not the mosques.”

Another issue arises when catching hold of the women and children among them. “We are also not touching the women and children, since there are separate issues regarding their rights which are also to be considered when dealing with them. However, we are coming up with more plans to do something about them as well,” he says.

“For this we may have to take on board the borstals or juvenile establishments for youthful offenders as well,” he explains.

A strong deterrent is the sympathy factor that these beggars enjoy. Shaikh believes that the efforts in curbing beggary would go to waste if the evil is encouraged by the people of the city.

“We need the cooperation of the citizens. There are obviously, so many beggars roaming about and more coming in as they are finding it a lucrative business. The people should understand that this is not really charity that they are doing but inadvertently helping in increasing the nuisance and crime by doling out money to them,” he concludes.