Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday expressed concern over what he described as a growing, organised begging network in Pakistan, warning that the practice has contributed to visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals in Gulf countries.
In a post on X, Asif shared a video by social worker Zafar Abbas showing an interview with a child in Karachi’s Shah Faisal area who said he and his two brothers earn between Rs10,000 and Rs12,000 weekly through begging and recently purchased a house.
بھیک مانگنا ایک پروفیشن بن چکا ھے۔ جو باقاعدہ آرگنائزڈ ھے۔ اسکے باقاعدہ ٹھیکیدار موجود ھیں جو بچوں عورتوں اور جعلی معذوروں کو بھرتی کرکے کروڑوں کما رہے ھیں۔ یہی مافیا انہی بھیک منگوں کو گلف کے ملکوں میں ھزاروں کی تعداد میں ایکسپورٹ کر رہے ھیں ۔ ان ملکوں نے زچ ھو کر ھمارے ویز ے… pic.twitter.com/NRv3Ga1yBC
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) February 9, 2026
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Asif said begging had evolved into a structured industry run by contractors who recruit children, women and individuals posing as disabled persons. He alleged that the same networks are sending thousands of beggars to Gulf states, prompting host countries to tighten visa policies for Pakistanis.
The minister also claimed that officials from multiple government departments posted at airports were complicit in the trade and financially benefiting from it, calling the situation a “disgraceful business”.
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Referring to Sialkot, Asif said many organised beggars originate from South Punjab, stay in local hotels and operate in groups. He noted that recent action by district authorities and police had reduced their numbers but not eliminated the activity. According to him, contractors running such networks are often financially well-off and seek protection for their operations through influential intermediaries.
He further stated that organised begging has become one of the country’s largest sources of informal employment and argued that such networks cannot function without the patronage of local administrations and law enforcement. Asif warned that the trade is also linked to other criminal activities, making it a serious social and security challenge.
His remarks come amid media reports claiming the United Arab Emirates had proposed a visa ban on Pakistani nationals over rising involvement in begging. However, UAE Consul General in Karachi Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi dismissed the reports as “fake news”, stating that no such ban has been imposed.
Separately, Federal Investigation Agency Director General Riffat Mukhtar informed a National Assembly committee in December that 56,000 Pakistanis involved in organised begging had been deported from Saudi Arabia.
