The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved presenting the Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill to the provincial cabinet, aiming to eliminate organized begging networks and protect vulnerable children.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said authorities will show zero tolerance toward individuals forcing children into begging, adding that protecting children from exploitation is the government’s constitutional and moral responsibility.
During a briefing on the proposed law, officials outlined penalties including warnings for first-time offenders, transfer to rehabilitation centers, or up to one month in jail with fines.
Repeat offenders could face imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to Rs50,000.
The proposed legislation also includes one to two years of imprisonment for those found begging through fraud or deception, while organized or forced begging networks could face up to three years in jail and fines of up to Rs400,000.
The chief minister described the bill as landmark legislation aimed at dismantling professional begging networks and ending exploitation through strict enforcement alongside rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and employment opportunities.
Officials say the province aims to become the first in Pakistan to introduce a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the issue of organized begging.