LAHORE: Eid-ul-Fitr is just around the corner, and beggars are occupying the streets and public spaces of Pakistan’s bustling commercial markets, especially in major cities like Lahore, Karachi and Multan.
This Eid, a large number of beggars were seen in the busy Eid bazaars as people from far-flung areas flock to the cities to milk the charitable spirit of the season.
The Eid season is considered the most lucrative time for beggars and this year, the city’s roads, traffic signals and shopping centres have once again been filled with beggars of all ages and genders.
While some are going door-to-door in residential areas begging for Fitr, others are approaching crowds in the markets. It is estimated that there are over 400,000 beggars in the port city of Karachi alone. With the numbers increasing, concerns about beggars during the festive season have prompted the city administration to launch its annual crackdown.
Meanwhile, the police and other law enforcement agencies failed to provide any relief to the citizens visiting the market. Moreover, the local administration has intensified its operations against professional beggars, rounding them up and sending them to Edhi Homes for temporary shelter.
The problem of professional begging extends beyond Pakistan’s borders. Many beggars travel to Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Eid and Ashura to receive alms in foreign currency.
In the face of complaints from Gulf countries, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has started stopping beggars at airports, putting 4,300 beggars on the Exit Control List (ECL) as part of a crackdown on the practice.
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