CTO, Alkhidmat Foundation join hands to combat professional begging in Lahore

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2026) Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi on Friday visited Alkhidmat Foundation, where both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to curb professional begging, dismantle organised begging networks and rehabilitate deserving individuals.

During the visit, the CTO met volunteers of the Foundation's Bano Qabil project and discussed a joint strategy to address the growing challenge of professional begging in the provincial capital.

According to a Lahore Traffic Police spokesperson, volunteers of the Bano Qabil project will assist Lahore Traffic Police in the mapping, research and profiling of beggars to help identify handlers and organised networks involved in professional begging.

The CTO said legal action would be taken against such elements under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 and other relevant laws.

He said eliminating begging required not only strict legal action but also the rehabilitation of deserving individuals. In collaboration with welfare organisations, women, children and transgender persons would be provided vocational training, including beauty, tailoring and other technical skills, to help them secure dignified employment.

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The meeting also agreed to establish "Jhuggi Schools" in informal settlements across Lahore to provide education to underprivileged children and protect them from being pushed into begging.

Abdul Raheem Shirazi said the increasing number of beggars had become a serious social challenge that required coordinated efforts by government institutions, welfare organisations and citizens. He urged the public to extend assistance to deserving people through credible charitable organisations instead of encouraging professional beggars.

The spokesperson said Lahore Traffic Police had taken action against more than 3,500 beggars so far this year. Begging children, men and women had been shifted to Social Beggars Homes, Edhi centres and the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, while 726 cases had also been registered with the assistance of Lahore Police.

Director of the Bano Qabil project Shahid Iqbal appreciated the efforts of Traffic Police and assured full cooperation in the campaign against professional begging and the rehabilitation of deserving individuals.