Govt moves to block over 2,000 beggars' passports

The government has announced to block the passports of over 2,000 Pakistani beggars who tarnish Pakistan's image by seeking alms in foreign countries, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

According to sources, the director general of immigration and passports has requested detailed information about these individuals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry will compile lists of beggars from Pakistani missions abroad. This initiative aims to identify and act against Pakistani citizens involved in begging in foreign countries.

The sources added that the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working together to formulate a comprehensive policy to address this issue.

Officials have noted that a significant number of these beggars travel to countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq under the pretext of performing Umrah or visiting religious shrines.

These activities have been deemed detrimental to the country's reputation, prompting the government to take stringent measures.

In addition to blocking the passports of the beggars for seven years, the government has decided to target the agents who facilitate these individuals' travel abroad.

The passports of these agents will also be blocked, effectively halting their operations.

The collection of data on individuals traveling abroad for begging purposes is already underway.

This data will serve as the foundation for the new policy being developed. The authorities believe that blocking the passports of those involved in begging and the agents who support them will significantly reduce the number of incidents and discourage others from engaging in similar activities.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif