Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal on Tuesday informed the Senate that the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police have intensified operations against begging and drug-related crimes, as well as running widespread public awareness campaigns.
Responding to various questions during Question Hour, she said legal proceedings are ongoing against arrested individuals, with all cases being processed under established judicial frameworks. “Any person found guilty will face strict legal consequences after completion of due process,” she added.
Highlighting the year-long campaign targeting professional beggars and their handlers, the minister explained that specialized male and female squads have been deployed to monitor public spaces, traffic signals, and marketplaces.
The police have coordinated with welfare organizations, the Ministry of Human Rights, UNICEF, FIA, and ICT Administration to rehabilitate children and women involved in begging. Ababeel and Dolphin patrol squads have been deployed across the city, with special instructions given to checkpoints to prevent the exploitation of minors and women in begging operations.
Public awareness campaigns have also been conducted through FM radio, social media, mosques, schools, and colleges to discourage giving alms directly to beggars, she said.
Sharing details, she said a total of 345 FIRs and 775 Qalandrajat cases were registered against beggars, resulting in the arrest of 4,274 individuals, including men, women, and transgender persons, who were sent to judicial lockups or shelters from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Addressing concerns about drug use in educational institutions, Dr Kharal said that no incidents of students using or possessing drugs inside schools and colleges have been reported over the past two years.
However, 34 cases of drug selling near educational institutions were registered during this period, leading to arrests and the confiscation of large quantities of narcotics, she added.
She said the ICT Police have launched the awareness campaign “Nasha Ab Nahi” in schools, colleges, mosques, and public spaces, and have engaged civil society to guide parents and students on the dangers of narcotics. Coordination with provincial police and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has been ensured to curb drug trafficking.
She said capacity-building programs have also been conducted for police officers, with 106 specialized training courses held during 2024-25 to strengthen investigations and improve conviction rates.
Close coordination with the judiciary and prosecutors ensures that cases are effectively processed under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA), she said.