RAWALPINDI: The anti-beggar squad of City Traffic Police detained 1,330 professional beggars and registered 30 cases against them during a crackdown last month.

A police spokesman said Chief Traffic Officer Rai Mazhar Iqbal had issued special orders to the incharge of the anti-beggar squad to take strict action against the professional beggars on a daily basis.

He said more than 80pc of beggars in the city were professionals. He said 45pc of the beggars were men, 40pc women, 5pc children and 10pc transgender persons.

The squad arrested 1,330 beggars from highways and intersections of the city last month and registered 30 FIRs against them.

The CTO appealed to the citizens to avoid giving money to professional beggars so that they could be discouraged.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2021