SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has remarked that begging has evolved into an organized profession in Pakistan, reportedly providing the most “employment” in the country.
Speaking to the media, Khawaja Asif said that formal contractors now control begging operations. These contractors recruit children, women, and fake disabled individuals, earning millions of rupees in the process.
“These contractor mafias are even sending thousands of beggars to Gulf countries,” the minister stated. “Due to this, several Gulf states have reportedly closed visa channels for Pakistanis.”
He also alleged that officials at airports are complicit in this criminal enterprise, benefiting financially from it. In Sialkot, many of these operators reportedly come from southern Punjab and stay in hotels while running their operations.
Khawaja Asif noted that recent actions by local administration and police have somewhat curbed the trade, but beggars are still widely visible.
“In Sialkot, those who appear well-off are often the contractors behind these beggars,” he said. “When crackdowns occur, these contractors act as intermediaries to protect their operations.”
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