Two reporters from the City42 channel, who disguised themselves as a beggar to collect daily income data and other economic facts about professional beggars in Pakistan, revealed that they earn significantly more than the hardworking lower classes.
The findings show that beggars in major cities like Lahore can make an average of Rs2,000 per hour, amounting to an astonishing Rs14,400 for an 8-hour day. In clear contrast, a labourer earns between Rs1,200 to Rs1,400 for a full day’s work.
Correspondents from 24 News decided to investigate the veracity of these figures by spending an hour begging in different parts of Lahore.
Their findings were eye-opening: in just one hour, they managed to earn Rs1,800. This experiment highlights the considerable earnings that beggars can generate compared to the labour force.
The experiment also revealed that well-dressed female beggars tend to receive three times more alms than those who appear less presentable.
This suggests that appearance plays an important role in the earnings of beggars, with more presentable individuals likely to receive greater sympathy and generosity from the public.
On a monthly basis, a well-dressed female beggar can potentially earn up to Rs432,000, far exceeding the average income of many professions in Pakistan.
These figures paint a clear picture of the economic disparities within the country, where those resorting to begging can out-earn individuals engaged in honest labour.
Reporters: Munazer Ali and Maida Waheed