Authorities in Islamabad have intensified their campaign against beggary, leading to the arrest of 3,811 individuals over the span of one year in the federal capital. The arrests were made between September 1, 2024, and September 12, 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the increasing presence of beggars in public spaces. Officials confirmed that those detained included men, women, and transgender individuals engaged in street-level begging.
The official breakdown of arrests shows that 2,035 men, 1,703 women, and 73 transgender persons were taken into custody during the crackdown. This highlights that beggary is not limited to one gender but spans across different sections of society. Authorities stressed that such operations were necessary to discourage exploitation networks that often force vulnerable individuals into begging for financial gain.
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Furthermore, documents reveal that 787 arrests were made through the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), ensuring that legal proceedings would follow. In addition, 3,024 individuals were detained under “Qalandrajaat,” a legal provision designed for dealing with summary offenses. Officials stated that this approach allows swift action against offenders while ensuring that formal investigations can continue.
The crackdown, however, is not limited to arrests alone, as authorities are pursuing further legal measures to dismantle organized beggary rings operating within Islamabad. By targeting those who exploit beggars, officials believe the campaign can address the root cause of the issue rather than only dealing with its visible outcome. This, they argue, will make public spaces safer and more orderly.
Moreover, the campaign is part of a larger initiative to restore discipline and improve the capital’s overall environment. With beggary increasingly linked to criminal networks, authorities say such decisive actions are crucial to maintaining law and order. They added that tackling organized groups is the key to breaking cycles of exploitation and reducing the number of people forced into begging.
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Public responses to the crackdown have been mixed, with some appreciating the government’s firm approach, while others urge for rehabilitation programs to address poverty-driven begging. Officials, however, maintain that arrests combined with legal action against exploiters remain the most effective way to deal with the challenge and ensure Islamabad is free from organized beggary.