Begging Has Become Pakistan’s Largest “Employment” Sector: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
Islamabad, February 9, 2026 — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has described begging as the country’s single largest provider of “employment,” claiming the practice has been turned into a highly organized criminal enterprise.In a recent interview, the senior PML-N leader alleged that professional contractors (thekedars) now run begging operations across the country. These contractors…
Islamabad, February 9, 2026 — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has described begging as the country’s single largest provider of “employment,” claiming the practice has been turned into a highly organized criminal enterprise.
In a recent interview, the senior PML-N leader alleged that professional contractors (thekedars) now run begging operations across the country. These contractors reportedly recruit children, women, and individuals posing as disabled persons, earning crores of rupees monthly through this mafia-like network.
“Begging has its own contractors now,” Asif stated. “These contractor mafias are sending thousands of people abroad as well. Gulf countries have become so frustrated with this situation that they have either stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis or imposed severe restrictions.”
He warned that this organized begging syndicate is damaging Pakistan’s international reputation and contributing to visa rejections and travel bans in several Middle Eastern countries.
The minister called the issue a serious socio-economic problem and urged law enforcement agencies and the government to launch a comprehensive crackdown on the begging mafia operating both domestically and internationally.
The statement comes amid growing reports of Pakistani nationals facing visa denials and entry restrictions in Gulf states, with some officials in those countries reportedly citing misuse of visit visas and involvement in begging-related activities as a key concern.
