Government to Block Passports of Over 2,000 Pakistani Beggars
The government will block the passports of over 2,000 Pakistani beggars who tarnish the country’s image by begging abroad.
The director general of immigration and passports has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide details on these individuals. The ministry will collect lists of beggars from Pakistani missions overseas to identify and take action against them.
The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working together on a policy to address this issue. Officials said many beggars travel to Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, pretending to perform Umrah or visit religious shrines.
In addition to blocking the beggars’ passports for seven years, the government will also target the agents who facilitate their travel. These agents’ passports will also be blocked to stop their operations.
Data collection on individuals traveling abroad for begging is already underway. This information will help develop the new policy. Authorities believe that blocking the passports of beggars and their facilitators will reduce such incidents and discourage others from similar activities.
