The Beggar-Free Peshawar Campaign was inaugurated by the Commissioner of Peshawar Division, Riaz Khan Mahsud, to eliminate the scourge of begging for profit and make it into a model city.
For this purpose, the government has sanctioned Rs. 32 million. The program has been designed for beggars’ rehabilitation by imparting their skills development, education, and government support while punishing mafias exploiting vulnerable individuals.
This effort has emerged from the earlier success of the “Drug-Free Peshawar Campaign” and will aim to return beggars to the productive portion of society.
The system will provide separate facilities for women and children, with free housing, meals, and education and vocational training under the Department of Social Welfare. A large building has been rented to accommodate the identified number of beggars, ensuring proper care.
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According to Mahsud, professional beggars will be trained by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and provided with employment. The survey identifying genuine cases has been completed, and rehabilitation programs are in place to cater to the needs of the identified individuals.
Contractors of mafias, who dwelt on beggary, have also been identified, and they will soon be arrested and taken through due process of the law. The action is going to start soon, and teams for the district administration, Peshawar Police, and the Department of Social Welfare have already mobilized.