Rawalpindi Police continue crackdown on professional beggars, 371 arrested in 41 days

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2026) The Rawalpindi Police, under the direction of City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani, continued a city-wide crackdown on professional beggars, arresting 371 individuals over the past 41 days, a police spokesperson said on Thursday.

The operation has targeted busy streets and highways to curb begging that obstructs traffic and inconveniences citizens. Among those detained were 151 men, 203 women, and 17 transgender individuals.

Special squads formed to conduct the drive continuously monitored the city’s busy streets, roads, and markets, focusing on preventing organised begging and checking for associated criminal activity, the spokesperson said.

Many professional beggars, he noted, “are also involved in theft, drug trafficking, and other offences.”

The spokesperson emphasised that the anti-begging crackdown “aligns with the Punjab Chief Minister’s vision to maintain public order and ensure citizen safety across Rawalpindi".

He reiterated that strict surveillance and enforcement would continue, with ongoing operations aimed at deterring professional beggars and maintaining smooth traffic flow in the city.