Pakistan home to 38 million beggars: report

A recent report has revealed alarming statistics about the growing number of beggars in Pakistan, estimating that the practice costs the country approximately $42 billion annually.

According to the report, Pakistan — with a population exceeding 240 million — is home to nearly 38 million beggars. The breakdown shows that 12% of them are men, 55% women, 27% children, and the remaining 6% are classified as white-collar individuals forced into begging due to economic hardship.

The data indicates that 30% of the country’s beggars are concentrated in Karachi, 16% in Lahore, and 7% in Islamabad, with the rest scattered across other cities. On average, a beggar in Karachi collects about Rs2,000 daily, in Lahore Rs1,400, and in Islamabad Rs950, while the nationwide average stands at Rs850 per day.

The report estimates that beggars collectively receive around Rs32 billion daily, translating to Rs11.7 trillion annually — equivalent to $42 billion based on average exchange rates.