Beggars: A National Eyesore

The roads and streets of Pakistan are littered with gangs of professional beggars including small kids, women, eunuchs and amputated men of all ages operating in pitiful garbs and guises. For a host of reasons, one feels compelled to give some money despite knowing the fact that they are 99% professionals. And if you can restrain yourself, a sense of guilt accompanies you in addition to sustaining angered stare by the mendicants. Beggars have existed in human society since the dawn of recorded history. Nevertheless, Beggary is detested in almost parts of the world, which can be gauged by the prevalent international proverbs e.g. ‘Learn to handle a writing-brush and you’ll never handle a begging – bowl’ (China), ‘It is a beggar’s pride that he is not a thief’ (Japan), ‘Young drinkers, old beggars’ (Germany), ‘The best morsels are never given to a beggar’ (Africa), ‘A beggar will always be a beggar even if they give him the whole world as a gift’ (Iran), and ‘A bashful beggar has an empty wallet’ (Hungary). Some more familiar sayings about beggars are: ‘Beggars can't be choosers’, ‘Best beggars are the ones who borrow’ and ‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride’. All these adages suggest that beggary takes away self respect and pride in hard work and deprives of an honourable existence. 

According to the Holy Quran, “[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic]sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend on good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” [Quran, 2: 273]. Islam strongly discourages begging for those capable of working, emphasizing self-reliance and dignity, but permits it in dire necessity. Muslims are encouraged to work to earn a living and provide for themselves, as taking charity when one can work is seen as debasing one's face and dignity. However, it is also a religious duty for the wealthy to give charity and show compassion instead of rebuke.

Begging has been restricted or prohibited at various times and for various reasons, typically revolving around a desire to preserve public order or to induce people to work rather than to beg. Various European ‘Poor Laws’ prohibited or regulated begging from the Renaissance to modern times, with varying levels of effectiveness and enforcement. Similar laws were adopted by many developing countries. "Aggressive panhandling" has been specifically prohibited by law in various jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. In countries bordering Pakistan like China, Afghanistan, Iran and India Begging is officially banned. Begging is criminalized in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi as per the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, BPBA (1959). Under this law, officials of the Social Welfare Department, assisted by the police, conduct raids to pick up beggars who they then try in special courts called 'beggar courts'. If convicted, they are sent to certified institutions called 'beggar homes', for a period ranging from one to ten years for detention, training and employment. The government of Delhi, besides criminalizing alms-seeking, has also criminalized alms giving at traffic signals, to reduce the 'nuisance' of begging and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Something Islamabad needs to emulate!

The increasing trend of Pakistan's unemployment and street begging is also caused by increasing population and unavailability of jobs. According to a 2024 report, in a country with over 240 million people, there are reportedly 38 million beggars, with the national average amount per beggar is Rs 850. Reportedly, these beggars extract Rs 32 billion from people’s pockets every day, which translates into Rs.117 trillion annually(equivalent to $42 billion). Simply put, these are 38 million non-productive individuals consuming $42 billion. The need to eliminate this National Eyesore even spreading abroad can be understood by seeing the example of Bangladesh; after getting rid of beggars from society, it was able to raise $52 billion in four years.

One wonders as to why the Government of Pakistan can’t use collected Zakat and billions of rupees collected from hundreds of shrines through Auqaf Department to take care of real needy people by making food, health, shelter and vocational education arrangements and enable them to earn bread and butter instead of begging. In 2024, the estimated total Zakat collection in Pakistan was Rs 619 billion (approximately $2.19 billion), with over 50 million Pakistanis contributing, mostly through private channels rather than the state-run system. This figure exceeds government welfare spending, which highlights the importance of Zakat as a form of social protection, and shows a preference for direct giving to individuals, especially women and widows. Population control and Introducing severe punishment to the beggars’ gangs handlers shall greatly help to eliminate the embarrassing swarms of beggars from the Land of Pure. Beggars on the roads are a blot on the face of a healthy and vibrating society; and can be wiped off with the Federal and Provincial Governments’ resolve.