Businesses facing hurdles in obtaining visas for begging tag attached with Pakistanis: Kh Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticized the growing issue of beggary in Pakistan, terming it a key reason behind the visa problems faced by the country's industrialists abroad. 

Addressing members of the Ready-Made Garments Association in Sialkot on Saturday, Kh Asif said that the increasing number of Pakistanis going aboard for begging has tarnished the country’s image, making it difficult for genuine businesspeople to get visas. “How can other countries facilitate us when 6,000 people are begging in Saudi Arabia alone?” he questioned. 

Defence Minister said there are more than 20 million beggars in Pakistan with a combined monthly income of Rs42 billion. “We have swept them from Sialkot twice, but they still return in large numbers,” he said, pointing out that these individuals damage the nation’s international standing and credibility. Khawaja Asif also criticized the use of religious sites for political purposes, stating, “Even in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, politics are being played.” He showered praise on Sialkot’s industrialists, recognizing their efforts and contribution to the national economy. “The business community is the true benefactor of this country. They are investing honestly and generating better revenue for the government than many other cities,” he remarked. 

Khawaja Asif emphasized that Pakistan loses nearly $4 billion annually due to imports, a figure he described as crucial for the country’s financial stability. The defense minister also touched upon the energy sector, noting that efforts to install power plants began in 2015 and that energy stakeholders embezzle even a single gram. He acknowledged the past mismanagement, saying, “It cannot be estimated how much damage has been done to this country.”

Khawaja Asif also mentioned that independent power producer (IPP) contracts signed during the 1990s are nearing expiration, while those initiated during the Pervez Musharraf era will last until around 2035.