Pakistan Faces Global Embarrassment as Over 2.2 Million Beggars Earn Billions Annually: Defence Minister

Pakistan’s Defence Minister, **Khawaja Muhammad Asif**, has revealed that the country is home to nearly **2.2 million beggars**, who collectively earn a staggering **Rs. 42 billion annually**. Speaking at an event hosted by the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association in his hometown Sialkot, the minister expressed serious concerns about the growing number of professional beggars tarnishing Pakistan’s image on the global stage.

Highlighting international implications, Khawaja Asif cited recent deportations of Pakistani beggars from the Middle East, particularly **Saudi Arabia**, which has sent back over **4,700 Pakistani nationals** involved in begging activities. While no specific timeframe was provided, official figures from the **Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)** confirm that **4,000 beggars** were deported by Saudi authorities over the past **three years**, up to the end of 2024.

Saudi Arabia enforces **strict anti-begging laws**, with penalties including **fines and imprisonment**. Foreign nationals caught begging are often deported after completing their sentences. A senior FIA official stated that many of those deported recently hailed from **South Punjab, Karachi, and interior Sindh**.

To curb this issue, FIA has reportedly placed the names of deported beggars on **passport control lists**, effectively banning them from traveling abroad again. Officials view this as a necessary step to prevent further reputational damage and to control the operations of organized begging networks.

This revelation underscores the pressing need for domestic policy reforms, social rehabilitation programs, and employment opportunities to address the root causes of professional begging in Pakistan.