The Alarming Reality of Beggary in Pakistan 2025

The Alarming Reality of Beggary in Pakistan 2025: A Comprehensive Look

The alarming reality of beggary in Pakistan has reached a critical scale, impacting society and the economy in profound ways. With reports suggesting that 38 million beggars collectively earn Rs 32 billion daily, the issue demands urgent attention. This article explores the staggering scope of beggary, its economic implications, root causes, and potential solutions to address this deeply entrenched social problem.

The Scale of Beggary in Pakistan

Begging by some Pakistanis in foreign lands creates a perception that all Pakistanis are beggars. They cause difficulties not only to those seeking legitimate employment opportunities abroad, but also affect diplomatic relations between countries. It can also lead to the imposition of stricter visa policies, which could reduce the number of persons working abroad and sending remittances to the country. Hence, necessary measures, like a strict vetting process for people travelling abroad and proper interrogation at the time of immigration, are the need of the hour. https://www.dawn.com/news/1900786

The alarming reality of beggary in Pakistan is so conspicuous that, walking through Pakistan’s urban centers, one cannot ignore the pervasive presence of beggars. From traffic intersections to shopping malls and religious sites, individuals of all ages seek financial assistance. Estimates vary significantly:

Dawn reports 38 million beggars out of Pakistan’s 245 million population, representing 15.5% of the population1.
Pakistan Today cites 25 million professional beggars.
The Asian Human Rights Commission estimates between 5 to 25 million beggars, comprising 2.5% to 11% of the population.

Karachi serves as a hotspot for begging activity, particularly during Ramzan when charitable giving surges. In 2024 alone, over 400,000 beggars reportedly migrated to Karachi during this holy month. This seasonal influx highlights the organized nature of professional begging networks.

Children in Begging Networks

One of the most concerning aspects is the involvement of children in begging activities. Approximately 1.2 million children roam Pakistan’s streets, many forced into begging by criminal networks or family circumstances. These children face exploitation and are deprived of education, healthcare, and opportunities for development.

The Economics of Begging

The financial dimensions are staggering:

On average, beggars in Karachi earn Rs 2,000 daily; those in Lahore and Islamabad collect Rs 1,400 and Rs 950, respectively.
Nationally, the daily average stands at Rs 850 per beggar, often exceeding wages earned by unskilled laborers.

When multiplied across millions of beggars, these earnings amount to Rs 32 billion daily or Rs 117 trillion annually, equivalent to $42 billion. This figure represents roughly 12% of Pakistan’s GDP and exceeds annual tax collection. Such a parallel economy operates largely outside formal structures.

Root Causes Driving Beggary

Several interconnected factors contribute to the prevalence of begging:

Economic Hardship

Pakistan’s unemployment rate stood at 6.3% in 2024, leaving millions jobless. Rampant inflation (11.8% in May 2024) exacerbates financial struggles for families who often find begging more lucrative than low-paying jobs.

Poverty and Social Inequality

Approximately 40% of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line ($3.65 per day), with an even larger proportion earning less than $6.85 daily. Without adequate social safety nets, begging becomes a survival strategy for many.

Urbanization

Rapid migration from rural areas to cities has led to overcrowding and unemployment. Urban centers attract professional begging networks due to higher wealth concentration and charitable giving2.

Insufficient Social Protection

Pakistan’s welfare programs, like the Benazir Income Support Programme, provide limited relief. The absence of comprehensive unemployment benefits or universal healthcare leaves vulnerable populations without support systems.

Begging as an Organized Industry

Professional begging networks operate with sophisticated strategies:

They deploy individuals to high-traffic areas during optimal times.
During religious observances like Ramzan, these networks capitalize on increased charitable donations.
Alarmingly, these networks have expanded internationally; in 2023, 90% of beggars arrested abroad were identified as Pakistani nationals1.

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has struggled to reduce beggary in Pakistan despite trillion-rupee expenditures due to structural flaws in its design, implementation gaps, and failure to address the root causes of poverty.

Breakdown of the key issues

1. Cash Transfers vs. Job Creation

Design Flaw: BISP primarily provides unconditional cash transfers (Rs 9,000/quarter in 2024) rather than creating employment5. While it reaches 9 million families, recipients often use funds for immediate needs rather than income-generating activities5.
No Skill Development: The program lacks vocational training components. Over 60% of BISP beneficiaries are illiterate, yet no large-scale initiatives exist to improve employability5.
Example: A 2023 study showed only 3% of BISP recipients transitioned to formal jobs due to the program’s focus on consumption support over capacity building5.

2. Systemic Challenges Undermining Impact

Issue	BISP’s Response	Result
Unemployment (6.3% in 2024)5	No job linkages created	Beneficiaries remain dependent on handouts
Child begging (1.2M kids)4	No education conditionalities	Intergenerational poverty persists
Organized begging rings	No anti-mafia collaborations	Criminal networks outpace welfare efforts

3. Parallel Economy Dynamics

Beggars earn Rs 850–2,000 daily13, exceeding Pakistan’s minimum wage (Rs 32,000/month). For many, begging is more lucrative than BISP’s Rs 3,000/month5.
Karachi’s beggar networks reportedly earn Rs 32 billion daily1 – equivalent to 4.4x BISP’s annual 2024 budget (Rs 472 billion)5.

4. Implementation Failures

Corruption: 15–20% of BISP funds reportedly leak due to ghost beneficiaries and bureaucratic graft5.
Urban Bias: 78% of Pakistan’s beggars operate in cities1, but BISP primarily targets rural areas.
No Graduation Strategy: Only 0.2% of beneficiaries exit the program annually, creating long-term dependency5.

5. Policy Alternatives & Solutions

To effectively reduce beggary, Pakistan needs:

BISP+ Employment Initiative:
- Link cash transfers to vocational training (e.g., 6-month courses in textiles/agriculture).
- Partner with industries to guarantee jobs for trained beneficiaries.
Child Beggar Rehabilitation:
- Enforce compulsory education for BISP families (current school enrollment: 48% among recipients)5.
- Establish 200+ shelters for street children by 2026.
Anti-Begging Task Forces:
- Deploy 10,000-strong teams nationwide to dismantle organized networks (modeled on Punjab’s 2024 anti-beggary drive that arrested 14,500 professional beggars)1.

While BISP has prevented starvation for millions, its failure to address the $42 billion begging economy1 stems from treating symptoms rather than causes. A 2025 World Bank proposal suggests redirecting 30% of BISP funds to urban job-creation schemes could reduce beggary by 40% within 3 years5. Without such reforms, cash transfers alone will remain inadequate against Pakistan’s entrenched begging crisis.

Solutions to Address Beggary

Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach:

Strengthening Social Welfare Systems

Investing in comprehensive social protection programs, such as unemployment benefits, affordable housing initiatives, and food security systems, can reduce reliance on begging.

Education and Skills Development

Universal access to quality education can break intergenerational cycles of poverty. Vocational training programs targeted at vulnerable communities can equip individuals with marketable skills.

Law Enforcement Reform

Stronger enforcement against exploitative networks is essential. Authorities must distinguish between professional begging rings and individuals genuinely in need while rehabilitating victims, especially children.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Educating citizens about how indiscriminate giving perpetuates dependency is crucial. Redirecting donations toward legitimate charities can support sustainable poverty reduction efforts.

Community-Based Initiatives

Local organizations can assess individual needs and connect beggars with resources like education or employment opportunities. Religious institutions can play a pivotal role by channeling charitable donations into structured poverty alleviation programs.

To address urban migration and boost national production, Pakistan can adapt China’s successful Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs) model by leveraging local resources and decentralizing industrial growth. Here’s a structured approach:

Core Principles of China’s TVE Model

China’s TVEs (1978–1990s) were rural, community-owned industries that:

Operated outside state control but with local government support.
Focused on labor-intensive sectors like textiles, food processing, and machinery.
Contributed 30% of China’s industrial output by 1993 and created 135 million rural jobs.

Adapting the Model for Pakistan

1. Local Resource Utilization

Agriculture-Based Industries:
Establish small-scale processing units for crops like cotton (textiles), wheat (flour mills), and fruits (packaged goods).
Example: Sindh’s mango belt could host export-oriented drying/packaging facilities.
Mineral Resources:
Develop gemstone polishing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (emeralds) and salt processing in Punjab’s Salt Range.

2. Government Policy Framework

Tax Incentives: 5-year tax holidays for rural SMEs.
Credit Access: Microfinance schemes via partnerships with institutions like Akhuwat.
Infrastructure: Invest in rural roads, electricity (solar grids), and internet connectivity.

3. Sectoral Focus

Sector	Opportunity	Employment Potential
Textiles	Small weaving units in Punjab’s cotton belt	500,000+ jobs
Agri-processing	Date processing in Balochistan	200,000+ jobs
Handicrafts	Ceramics in Multan, leather in Sialkot	300,000+ jobs

4. Skill Development

Vocational training centers aligned with local industry needs (e.g., HVAC repair in Gilgit for tourism infrastructure).
Partner with China for technical know-how under CPEC’s Special Economic Zones.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge: Bureaucratic red tape.
Solution: Single-window approval systems for rural enterprises.
Challenge: Energy shortages.
Solution: Solar microgrids subsidized by provincial governments.
Challenge: Market access.
Solution: E-commerce platforms like Daraz to connect rural producers with urban buyers.

Expected Outcomes

Migration Reduction: Rural job creation could cut Karachi’s annual migrant influx (currently ~400,000 people) by 40%.
Economic Growth: Boosting SMEs could add $15–20 billion annually to Pakistan’s GDP.
Export Potential: Localized industries could increase exports by 12–15% through value-added goods.

By emulating China’s bottom-up industrialization while addressing Pakistan’s unique challenges, this approach can transform rural economies and reduce dependency on urban centers.

The Path Forward

The alarming reality of beggary in Pakistan reflects broader systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and governance failures. While quick fixes may provide temporary relief, meaningful change requires long-term investment in social infrastructure and public awareness campaigns.

By addressing root causes and dismantling exploitative networks, Pakistan can transform its parallel begging economy into opportunities for sustainable development—a necessary step toward building a more equitable society.

Citations:

BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme): Evolution, Challenges, and Reforms in Pakistan’s Largest Social Safety Net