Afridi approves to present Vagrancy Control & Rehab Bill to cabinet

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has approved the presentation of ‘Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill’ before the provincial cabinet, marking a decisive move against organized begging networks across the province.

The Chief Minister has described the proposed legislation as a historic and transformative step, stating that it aims to dismantle the beggar mafia while adopting a rights-based and rehabilitative approach for genuine victims of poverty and coercion.

Chairing a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, he emphasised that begging driven by organized exploitation, coercion, and fraud will no longer be tolerated. He said the state has a constitutional and moral obligation to rescue children from forced begging and ensure their protection, rehabilitation, and dignified reintegration into society. "The new law draws a clear line between the vulnerable and the exploiters,”

Those who turn begging into a profession or a business will face strict punishment, while individuals compelled by poverty or abuse will be supported through rehabilitation, skills training, and employment opportunities, he said.

A key feature of the bill is its strong focus on child protection. Children involved in begging will be dealt with under child protection laws, ensuring their removal from exploitative environments and placement into welfare and rehabilitation systems.

This bill positions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to become the first province in the country to introduce a comprehensive, sustainable, and humane framework to address begging, combining firm law enforcement with social justice, human dignity, and long-term rehabilitation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026