Multan is known for heat, beggars, dust storms and graveyards. With the advent of Ramazan a large number of beggars from across the country throng the streets of Multan to get maximum charity as every Muslims in Ramazan donate cash, fitra, zakat and other items to them.
This year, a large number of beggars coming to the city have doubled as last year's unprecedented flood rendered many people homeless, Besides floods, the rising inflation, increase in utility tariff and sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities have also compelled many people to beg in order to feed themselves.
People said that it was common practice of beggars to move to Multan from across the South Punjab, tribal areas of Punjab in the month of Ramazan. A large number of beggars had left for Karachi but they are now coming back due to target killings, Now majority of beggars left for Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. These beggars not only get money by begging but also involved in picking pockets in buses and markets, besides snatching bags from women as they are easy target, people told.
After 15th of Ramazan, these beggars moved to the markets as people do more shopping as Eid approaches near. A beggar earns Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 per day while a disable beggar earns beyond the imagination of Rs 10,000 per day, as people prefer to give charity to them rather than healthy beggars, he informed. He said other segments who joined these professional beggars were street children whose number was estimated over 32,000 in the city while eunuchs also came from various areas of the province to get the benefits of Ramazan.
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