UAE: A beggar involved in an accident on Sargodha Khushab Road was found with a staggering Rs 534,000 and multiple Saudi visas. The elderly man, identified as Mushtaq Ahmed, was discovered unconscious by Rescue 1122 personnel, who swiftly provided medical aid and transported him to the hospital.
Unveiling the truth
Locals talking to Travelsdubai.com said that Ahmed might be connected to a beggar gang, making his true identity and intentions questionable.
Following his recovery, the authorities returned Ahmed's money and passports, but the case has raised significant concerns about the real nature of begging and its hidden dimensions.
Image credit: ExpressTribune
Crackdown on beggars
In response to the growing issue of begging, the Punjab government has recently intensified its efforts to target individuals living below the poverty line who resort to begging on the streets.
The crackdown in Punjab is followed by an amendment at the federal level in the Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Act 2019, which now mandates jail time and heavy fines for beggars and their organizers.
Is it a distracting strategy?
While the crackdown might offer relief to citizens troubled by persistent beggars, the critics see it as a strategy to deflect from the real issues. The move, they argue, serves as a diversion from the underlying problem: rampant corruption and economic mismanagement that have forced even the most dignified citizens into begging.
Impact on the vulnerable
Unfortunately, in the absence of government interventions beggary has become a crucial means of survival for many families.
While it is important to prevent beggary from becoming a professional practice by implementing legal actions the government both in Punjab and the center should work towards bringing inflationary pressures on the common man down.
It is also imperative to regulate charity so that only those who deserve alms are benefited. Begging is as much a state of mind as it is sometimes a compulsion to make ends meet. The government is advised to crack down on both.