The increasing number of beggars on chowks, traffic signals, mosques, and markets in the twin cities puts the efficiency of authorities to question. Beggars crowd in every marketplace, in front of every mosque and at every traffic signal including Peshawar Chowk, Jinnah Super Market, Karachi Company, Super Market, F-10 Markaz, Commercial Market, Raja Bazaar, Saddar, and Zero Point. Residents expressed concern as most beggars are children under the age of 15 who are vulnerable and could easily be involved in anti-social activities. A group of residents at Peshawar Morr said many children are dropped there in the morning to beg and are picked up late at night. These beggars, including Afghan girls, surround visitors and ask them for money, they said. No authority had so far stepped up to curb these practices, they added. Another group of residents in Commercial Market said it was hard to shop or eat in restaurants and stalls as beggars swarmed all over the place asking for alms. They said the beggars tactfully exploited their emotions by telling heart-rending stories.
