The government has announced plans to block the passports of over 2,000 Pakistani beggars who damage Pakistan’s image by begging in foreign countries.
Sources say the director general of immigration and passports has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for detailed information about these individuals. The ministry will create lists of beggars from Pakistani missions abroad to identify and act against citizens begging in foreign countries.
The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working together on a comprehensive policy to address this issue. Officials noted that many of these beggars travel to countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq under the pretext of performing Umrah or visiting religious shrines.
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These activities harm the country’s reputation, prompting the government to take strict measures. The government will block the passports of these beggars for seven years and also target the agents who help them travel abroad. The passports of these agents will be blocked, stopping their operations.
Data collection on individuals traveling abroad to beg is already underway. This data will form the basis for the new policy. Authorities believe that blocking the passports of those involved in begging and the agents who support them will significantly reduce such incidents and discourage others from similar activities.
