Usama Bahadar
Street begging has become one of the most visible social problems in Pakistan. It is a social curse that has increased alarmingly over the past five or six years. Being an ordinary resident of Peshawar, where beggars can be found in almost every marketplace, public square, bus stop, around every mosque, hospital, public university, and even in our courts’ bar rooms, I can confidently say that the rest of the major cities are witnessing the same phenomenon. As the authorities have turned a blind eye, more people have entered this practice. Interestingly, beggars belong to every age group, ranging from children to the elderly. More concerning is the growing number of physically fit individuals who appear capable of joining the workforce. What was once an occasional sight has now become an unavoidable part of daily life, affecting both residents and visitors alike.
The most striking aspect of modern street beggary is its changing nature. Here in Peshawar, everyone has developed a unique style to attract public sympathy. Some pretend to be disabled, while others sell inexpensive and largely useless products to disguise their occupation. Others seek donations for constructing mosques or madrassas, paying utility bills, purchasing medicines, or supporting orphans. Similarly, at bus stations and traffic signals, they run alongside vehicles, persistently touching passengers and knocking on windows. Unfortunately, these scenes are now part of the routine life of the common people in Peshawar. In many cases, the aggressive behavior of professional beggars leaves citizens feeling uncomfortable and even unsafe in public places.
Arguably, Pakistan’s difficult economic conditions have contributed significantly to this trend. However, poverty is not the only reason behind the rise in street beggary. Along with economic hardship, ineffective regulation, weak law enforcement, and public sympathy have also encouraged the practice. According to the Gallup Pakistan survey, an estimated 110 million Pakistanis give money to beggars, typically giving a median amount of Rs. 20 per interaction. This amounts to approximately Rs. 374 million every day and Rs. 136 billion (USD 456 million) annually. The same survey further reveals that 84% of respondents say beggars have become more aggressive, while 66% believe many are part of organized exploitative networks. Moreover, 63% of Pakistanis feel pressured to give money to beggars, especially women (66%) and young people under the age of 30 (68%), even though only 37% believe their donations genuinely improve the lives of those receiving them. These figures indicate that public generosity, although well-intentioned, is often exploited by organized groups.
From an Islamic perspective, begging is discouraged when a person is physically capable of earning a livelihood. Islam places great emphasis on dignity, self-reliance, and honest labor. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) famously taught that earning through manual labor—even gathering and selling firewood—is far more honorable than asking others for financial assistance. At the same time, Islam strongly encourages society to care for the poor, widows, orphans, and people with disabilities through charity and organized welfare. This balanced approach promotes compassion while discouraging dependence on begging as a profession.
At the same time, it is important to differentiate between genuine poverty and professional begging. Many individuals are forced onto the streets because of unemployment, disabilities, old age, or other economic hardships, and they deserve compassion and institutional support. On the other hand, professional beggars often operate under organized networks that exploit women, children, and vulnerable individuals for financial gain. Such criminal exploitation deserves strict legal action. Therefore, any meaningful policy must combine effective law enforcement with social protection programs for those who genuinely need assistance. Without addressing both aspects, the problem is unlikely to be resolved.
To conclude, even minor social problems, if left unchecked, have the capacity to become major national challenges. The continued expansion of street beggary will not only encourage more people to adopt it as an easy source of income but will also increase insecurity and public nuisance in markets, transport hubs, and other public places. Therefore, the government, whether federal or provincial, must adopt a comprehensive strategy similar to those implemented in the UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia by strengthening laws, improving enforcement, expanding social welfare programs, and creating employment opportunities. Public awareness campaigns should also encourage citizens to support registered charities rather than giving money directly to professional beggars. In a fragile society like ours, where institutions often struggle to enforce the law and public sympathy is frequently exploited, even small social problems can become difficult to control. Street beggary is one such challenge, and it now demands the collective attention of the government, civil society, and every responsible citizen.
The writer is a law graduate and is currently practicing as a lawyer at the District and Sessions Courts, Peshawar. He can be reached on X at @UsamaB16.
