Begging – A Cause of Concern both Domestically and Internationally

  • Mohammad Ishaque
  • Published: December 16, 2024
Begging – A Cause of Concern both Domestically and Internationally

Picture Credits: https://www.instagram.com/cutacutofficial/p/C_xYfwFyDBH/?img_index=1

In the morning as I drove towards my work, a young man waves to my car. The young men dressed in vibrant clown attire with a face painted in bright colors stood at a traffic signal. His expression is more of a request for help. This increasing trend of street clowns shows the deep realities that drive people, especially the youth, to the street. This is the economic and social state of metropolitan city of Pakistan, Karachi.

The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024 highlights that inflation remains a major issue in the country. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation from July to April of FY 2024 was 26.0 percent, which is slightly lower than the 28.2 percent recorded during the same period in the previous year. Other inflation measures, like the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), stood at 30.2 percent compared to 31.7 percent the prior year, while the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) dropped to 22.4 percent from 34.1 percent. These figures demonstrate that Pakistan continues to face economic challenges despite some minor improvements.

The Labor Force Survey (LFS) 2020-21 reveals that the unemployment rate in Pakistan is at 6.3 percent. Given Pakistan's youthful demographic, it is crucial to provide sufficient job opportunities to absorb the growing labor force, especially the educated youth. According to the survey, 4.5 million people are unemployed. Female unemployment is notably higher, with 14.4 percent of women without jobs, compared to 10 percent of men. The highest unemployment rates are found among young people aged 15-24, at 11.1 percent, followed by 7.3 percent among those aged 25-34. This increasing unemployment among youth further endorses the street begging.

The increasing trend of Pakistan unemployment and street begging is caused by increasing population and unavailability of job to cater the need. In addition, the government and private institutions' lack of interest towards provision of jobs to unskilled workers has also encouraged street begging. Pakistan has historically witnessed political instability due to which the investment opportunities in Pakistan have remained limited and led to an increased unemployment rate. Measures such as the quality of education is also very poor in Pakistan, which fails to prepare the youth for emerging job market requirements such as Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, etc.

Mahbub ul haq , a prominent Pakistani economist in his book, "The poverty of Nation : The challenges of subsistence and self reliance" State :

"Unemployment is the worst form of poverty"

In the digital age, where staying connected is easier than ever, many people create an illusion of prosperity. Yet, in Karachi, a bustling metropolis in Pakistan, a peculiar trend has surfaced, where street clowns are begging at traffic signals. These young men, often dressed in colorful costumes with painted faces, pretend to be clowns while asking for money. Unlike traditional clowns who bring joy through their performances, these individuals remain silent, relying on their facial expressions to evoke sympathy from drivers. Their use of a clown personality serves two purposes: concealing their identity and reflecting their unwillingness to beg openly. Locally, they are often called "Safed Poshak," referring to those who maintain dignity despite difficult circumstances.

A significant proportion of Pakistanis, about 96% who travel abroad choose destinations in the Middle East, with an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 individuals traveling annually. Additionally, many visit Iran and Saudi Arabia for religious pilgrimages, known as Ziarat, and some end up engaging in begging during their stay. This situation has led to stricter visa policies, particularly from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it has implemented an indefinite ban on solo travelers from Pakistan, citing the issue of begging as one of the main reasons.

Pakistani begging abroad has far deeper consequences for the economy. Pakistan lost the trust of the brotherly countries at the time when the middle east required the skilled labor force to develop their countries further. This will cause a loss of job prospect to Pakistanis who otherwise could have availed the job search visa and applied in middle east. This phenomenon does not only have short-term issue of visa ban but will also lead to a loss of remittances in the future. At this important juncture in history for the economy of Pakistan, when its officials are roaming around the world for trying to bring in dollars for building up reserves, the actions of such beggars aboard would negatively affect educated Pakistani youth and the country.

In addition to the economic problems, the phenomenon of street clown begging in Karachi represents a deeper social problem. It signals a loss of hope and limited opportunities for young people within Pakistan. If this issue is not addressed, it could have severe long-term effects on the country's human development. This trend portrays a sense of desperation among the youth, which, if allowed to persist, could cause the already devastating brain drain to increase, while these beggars maintain their income with no incentive to worry about the country.

To tackle this problem, the government must take decisive action beyond mere promises. It is essential to implement programs that create jobs, provide skills training, and offer economic support to prevent young people from resorting to begging. Furthermore, improving Pakistan's overall economic conditions through sound policymaking can help ensure a brighter future for the country's youth, encouraging them to stay and contribute to national progress. For instance, the Prime Minister Youth Training Program and proper management of special economic zone to attract the foreign investment through which the government may be able to address the unemployment problem. I believe that the recent policy to support small and medium-sized enterprises, such as microfinance schemes and tax incentives will encourage the small and medium startups in Pakistan, which can be beneficial to reduce the unemployment in Pakistan.

By addressing these challenges heads on, Pakistan can work toward reducing street clown begging and fostering a more promising future for its young citizens. Addressing the underlying causes of unemployment and economic instability is key to create opportunities at home and improving Pakistan's reputation internationally.

Author: Mohammad Ishaque

Author Details:
Mohammad Ishaque
ACCA Finalist
mohammadishaque256@gmail.com


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