This is with regards to the social evil of “begging” in our country. According to different estimates, there are almost three million beggars in Pakistan.
In addition to ‘professional’ beggars, there are seasonal beggars who converge on big cities from surrounding peri-urban localities on special occasions, like the Eid holidays, in the hope of supplementing their incomes. A full-time beggar makes an average of Rs 500 per day. That is more than what many unskilled labourers earn in daily wages. They make us uneasy at our homes, follow us to our offices and tease us at our shops. If you do not pay them, they curse you. Some of them seem quite healthy and strong.
Efforts should be made to introduce more effective legislation against begging. The healthy and strong beggars should be forced to work in the factories and shops on fixed wages. The beggars, who are disabled, should be provided livelihood by the government.
The beggars, who are suffering from some diseases, should be sent to the hospital for the medical treatment and after recovery, they should be persuaded to do some job for earning their livelihood.
It is expected that our government and public would probe into this matter of national importance and pay proper attention to the eradication of this social evil.
RABIA ARSHAD KHAN
Lahore
100 % true
🙂 yahooooooo…… my letter got published 😀
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