Quetta: 12 held in Social Welfare drive against professional beggars

QUETTA: On the special directions of Director General Social Welfare Department Balochistan Mir Saifullah Khan Khetran, a team of the Welfare Home for Beggars of the Social Welfare Department took action against professional beggars on the main roads and at key points of the provincial capital.

In total, 12 people, including 11 women and one man, were detained. Seven children were warned and handed over to their parents.

Details of the action

On Wednesday, the team raided several key places in Quetta, including Airport Road, Secretariat Chowk, GPO Chowk and Serena Chowk. It took action against those involved in begging as a profession.

After the necessary legal formalities were completed, those detained were moved to the relevant police station.

Director General’s statement

Mir Saifullah Khan Khetran said that effective and continuous steps were being taken to rid Quetta of professional begging, in line with the provincial government’s directions and the mission of the Social Welfare Department.

He said professional begging was a social problem. To end it, the administration, the relevant institutions and all sections of society would have to play their part. He said some elements used children and women for begging. This was not only a cause for concern but also harmed the children’s future, education and upbringing.

He said the department would continue to act against such elements in accordance with the law. Special attention would be paid to protecting children from begging and to their education, upbringing and a better future.

He appealed to citizens not to encourage professional beggars. He asked them to inform the relevant institutions if children or women were being forced to beg in an organised manner anywhere.

He made it clear that Social Welfare Department teams would continue their operations in different parts of the city so that professional begging could be discouraged and social problems effectively addressed.