Ramadan's Unexpected Visitors: Karachi's Seasonal Beggars

During Ramadan, Karachi's streets see a significant increase in beggars. People come from all over Pakistan to the city. Most of them are hoping to collect zakat, a mandatory charity in Islam. This charity is specifically for the poor and is often given during Ramadan. It is a time when many people are more generous. Soomar, a 61-year-old widow, is one of those who travel to Karachi for this reason. She sat on a curb in a busy commercial area with a sign asking for help. She held packages of pills for high blood pressure, her late husband's death certificate, and an electricity bill to prove her need. She used to work as a housekeeper but had to quit due to knee pain. Now, she often resorts to begging to cover her expenses. Soomar's young granddaughter accompanied her on this journey. They traveled by bus from Qazi Ahmed, a town around 170 miles away. They plan to return home after Eid, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, attracts tens of thousands of charity-seekers during Ramadan. These people travel to the city to collect alms. This influx is not new, but it has gained more attention from the government this year. Pakistan is stepping up efforts to curb begging. A recent bill expands the definition of trafficking to include organized begging. It also includes a prison term of up to 10 years for anyone who lures or forces others into begging. In Karachi, police are advised to move children found begging to child protection centers.

The government is also taking steps to stop begging by its citizens abroad. This is after complaints from Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia. The kingdom says beggars arrive under the guise of religious pilgrimage. Pakistan last year blocked more than 4, 000 people from traveling to Saudi Arabia. Recently, Pakistani authorities arrested the alleged head of a criminal network. This network is accused of trafficking women to Saudi Arabia. The women were forced into begging after being promised free passage for the Umrah pilgrimage. Around 25% of Pakistan's population lived below the poverty line last year. Economists say major structural challenges are contributing to this. The country is slowly recovering from a years-long economic crisis. It is still struggling to create opportunities for unskilled workers. Laws against begging are loosely enforced. Philanthropy is especially evident during Ramadan. Charity organizations in Karachi provide food rations to the needy and free meals before and after the day-long fast. Some people come to Karachi seeking work during Ramadan, but end up begging instead. Muhammad Younus, 28, is one of them. He arrived from the city of Tando Adam, around 130 miles away. He hopes to find daily wage work. He makes this trip annually because working odd jobs in Karachi can fetch two to three times the 500 rupees, about $2 a day, he earns at home. He uses the extra cash to buy gifts for his children for Eid. But after failing to find work in Karachi this year, he has resorted to staying in the streets and living off charity. He reluctantly admits he is accepting money from people passing by.

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