Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that no mercy will be shown to those who force children into begging. He stressed that protecting children and removing them from the streets is both a constitutional duty and a moral obligation of the government.
The chief minister was briefed on the “Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill,” during which various measures were discussed. These included issuing warnings to first-time offenders, shifting beggars to rehabilitation centers, or awarding a one-month jail term along with fines.
According to the proposals, repeat offenders could face up to one year in prison and fines of up to Rs50,000. Begging carried out through fraud or deception may lead to imprisonment ranging from one to two years.
The briefing further noted that using fake disabilities or deceptive tactics for begging will now be treated as a serious criminal offense. Those involved in organized or forced begging could face prison terms of up to three years, along with fines of up to Rs400,000.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi approved the presentation of the bill before the provincial cabinet, calling it a landmark piece of legislation aimed at ending the begging mafia in the province. He said the proposed law would deal a strong blow to organized networks and exploitation linked to begging.
He added that the establishment of rehabilitation centers, along with skill development and employment opportunities, would help eliminate begging at its roots. According to him, this initiative will make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the first province to offer a complete and long-term solution to the issue.