15 December 2024 08:19 am Views - 113
Around 2,000 vehicles were used to transport 8,000 guests from all over the country. While this extravagant event sparked humor over the beggars' hidden wealth, many people expressed anger over the misuse of charitable donations. "Whether it's our tax money, such lavish use is deeply condemned," said one social media user. Another suggested the government "should tax them and officially register their profession." Some praised Pakistani beggars for being wealthier than ordinary citizens, while others called begging the best profession in the country.
At the same time, beggars from Pakistan have become a nuisance for Gulf countries. Despite warnings from Saudi Arabia, floods of beggars from Pakistan are still attempting to enter the country. The Islamabad government is struggling to contain the menace, which has brought shame to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has threatened to impose restrictions on Umrah and Hajj pilgrims if beggars from Pakistan enter the country again.
The incident has tarnished Pakistan’s image worldwide, prompting Pakistani agencies to take action against beggars. The Islamabad government has now made affidavits mandatory for pilgrims, pledging not to beg in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, tour operators are threatened with legal consequences if they fail to comply. A few days ago, Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Dr. Nasir bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood was briefed by his Pakistani counterpart about the actions being taken to stop beggars from Pakistan.
An unconscious elderly beggar, rescued by the police, was found to have bank deposits of PKR 534,000. He also had a valid passport and had made several trips to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has syndicates of beggar mafias and tour operators who facilitate beggars’ illegal travel to Saudi Arabia. The government has added the names of 4,300 beggars to its Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent a flood of beggars from traveling to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. Yet, beggars continue to attempt to reach Saudi Arabia under the guise of pilgrimage.
Three female beggars were caught at Karachi airport, attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia to beg. These women did not have return tickets or hotel bookings. Earlier in October, 16 beggars, including a child and four women, were apprehended while trying to enter Saudi Arabia. In November, 15 beggars were offloaded from Sialkot airport.
Many Gulf countries have expressed concerns about Pakistani beggars entering under the guise of employment and pilgrimage. This has prompted the UAE to require police character certificates from Pakistanis. This move came after some Pakistanis were found to be involved in begging and other illegal activities in the UAE, according to Adnan Paracha, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA).
Begging is outlawed in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and is a punishable crime. A large number of Pakistani beggars are jailed in the Gulf countries. According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, 90 percent of beggars in foreign jails are Pakistani. "Both the Iraqi and Saudi ambassadors have reported overcrowded jails due to these arrests," disclosed the ministry’s secretary.
According to a report by the Islamabad government, beggars arrested in Gulf countries were often involved in petty crimes such as pickpocketing. "Beggars are leaving Pakistan en masse, often traveling by boatloads, and then exploiting Umrah and visit visas to beg from pilgrims abroad," revealed former overseas secretary Zulfikar Haider. A Twitter user named Anas Abu Tamata commented that Pakistan’s image in Saudi Arabia has shifted from that of an advisor to that of a beggar. “Now they look at us (Pakistan) as beggars and incompetent people, a waste of 150 million youngsters' potential because of our government's corruption. How sad,” he wrote.