ISLAMABAD: In response to complaints from foreign countries, the federal government has decided to criminalize begging by amending the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018.
The Interior Ministry has submitted the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to modify the existing legislation by adding “organized beggary” to Section 3.
The proposed changes come as the issue of begging has been raised by several countries with Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Iraq, and Malaysia.
According to the draft, Pakistanis visiting these countries for Hajj, Umrah, and other religious pilgrimages have been found involved in begging, prompting diplomatic missions to urge Pakistani authorities to take strict action against beggars and the gangs behind them.
“The agents and gangs involved in this practice easily avoid prosecution as begging is not considered a crime under any law enforceable by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The urgency of the issue requires that begging be made a criminal offense,” the draft states.
The proposed amendments expand on “organized beggary” by stating that it includes acts where a person intentionally, knowingly, or by force or fraud coerces someone to engage in begging, either directly or indirectly, under any pretext.
The amendments also criminalize soliciting or receiving alms in public places, including under pretenses such as fortune-telling, performing tricks, or even forcefully cleaning vehicle windshields at traffic signals to solicit alms.
Additionally, individuals who appear to have no visible means of subsistence and are found wandering or remaining in public places in such a manner that suggests they are surviving by begging will also fall under the definition of organized beggary.
This move comes as part of efforts to address the growing concerns of human trafficking and illegal activities involving beggars, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia where Pakistan has faced pressure to stop sending beggars, sick individuals, and those without skills.
