Saudi Arabian Pakistani Beggars Cause Concern.
Some Pakistanis are currently dressing up as tourists to beg in Saudi Arabia on a regular basis, that has concerned the Saudi authorities. The problem has grown so severe that Pakistan has received a warning from Saudi authorities that if it is not resolved, Pakistani visitors may not be granted visas. In response, the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Pakistan intends to enact laws under the ‘Umrah Act’ to regulate the organisations that arrange pilgrimage tours.
This method is part of a bigger, organised begging industry in Pakistan, where even “exports” of beggars are reportedly assisted by criminal mafias. These beggars go often to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and, more lately, Japan. From 2021 to 2023, Pakistan banished 44,000 beggars from Saudi Arabia alone, while also cancelling the national ID cards and passports of thousands people who were discovered begging outside the country.
Begging is becoming an economically lucrative industry in Pakistan, with statistics revealing that beggars earn much more than untrained workers. In Karachi, they can earn up to 2,000 rupees per day, while the sector produces an estimated 117 trillion rupees per year—roughly 12% of the country’s GDP.
Regarding laws against begging, implementation is limited due to mafia impact and police corruption. Begging has become centralised, with many beggars refusing to look into other employment opportunities. Some claim the government’s absent response can be attributed to the foreign remittances these beggars bring back to Pakistan.
