Beggar-free Peshawar drive on cards

PESHAWAR: Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud announced “Beggar-Free Peshawar Campaign”, to eradicate professional beggars and transform Peshawar into a model city.

With Rs32 million allocated by the provincial government, the campaign will rehabilitate beggars through skill development, education, and government support, while cracking down on the mafias exploiting them.

Building on the success of the “Drug-Free Peshawar Campaign,” this initiative seeks to rid the city of professional beggars and reintegrate them as productive members of society. Separate facilities will cater to women and children, providing them with free accommodation, meals, education, and training under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare.

A large building is being rented to house the identified number of beggars, ensuring adequate space and facilities. Commissioner Riaz Mahsud emphasized that professional beggars would be trained in vocational skills through the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and provided with employment opportunities. A comprehensive survey on the number of beggars has been completed, and those identified as genuine cases will be rehabilitated. The commissioner said the mafia profiting from beggars had been identified with contractors facing imminent arrests and legal action.A crackdown is set to commence in the coming days, with teams comprising the district administration, Peshawar Police, and the Department of Social Welfare already formed.