In a country with a population of over 240 million, there are 38 million beggars, comprising 12% men, 55% women, 27% children, and the remaining 6% being respectable people in dire need.
Translation:
50% of these beggars are spread across Karachi, 16% in Lahore, 7% in Islamabad, and the remaining in other cities.
In Karachi, the average daily begging income is 2,000 rupees, in Lahore 1,400 rupees, and in Islamabad 950 rupees.
Across the entire country, the average per beggar is 850 rupees.
In the form of daily begging, these beggars extract 32 billion rupees from people's pockets.
Annually, this amount comes to 11.7 trillion rupees.
In terms of US dollars, this amount equals 42 billion dollars.
Now let's look at the other side.
If 38 million individuals were to work, they could produce products worth an average of 2,000 rupees per person. On this basis, they could generate cottage industry products worth 76 billion rupees—or 270 million dollars—daily, and based on annual working days, produce 78 billion dollars' worth of products per year.
Even if we assume a 50% efficiency rate, annual exports of 39 billion dollars could still be expected.
By pitying and helping beggars without any productive labor, 42 billion dollars leave our pockets every year. The result of this charity is something we have to endure in the form of 21% annual inflation, while a massive workforce of 38 million people remains entirely useless for the country's development.
Conversely, if we utilize them for work—even simple tasks—an expected revenue of 38 billion dollars could, within a few years, not only put our country completely on its feet but also provide honorable livelihoods for these current beggars.
The free meals provided on every street by soup kitchens, Edhi, Saylani, and other organizations are merely creating laziness, and all of them share a full role in the country's destruction.
These institutions should employ this manpower in ready-made garments, welding design, farming, and numerous other avenues, offering these workers a wage alongside food. The Bangladesh model can help us in this regard.
It is worth noting that if anyone has benefited from this begging, madrasa donations, shrine offerings, and charity given to the undeserving—and received ten times back immediately as per Allah's promise—then by all means, they should continue their practice. However, I am certain that Allah will never reward giving to the undeserving, because according to the Sunnah, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) sold a bowl to buy an axe; he did not offer handouts.
Now, if the public wants to keep living in this inflation and is content with giving away their children's bread to these beggars, then by all means, spend the next hundred years in humiliation.
However:
If you want strong economic stability and a peaceful life for your children in just a few years, then say goodbye to all beggars starting today. Boycott all madrasa donations and free feeding schemes. At first, you will face numerous fatwas against this, shrine custodians will call you disrespectful and deniers, they will warn you of severe punishment, and much more is to be expected—but after five years, Insha'Allah, you will not regret your decision and will feel joy seeing your children thrive.
On the day Bangladesh said goodbye to the beggar system, just four years later, it held 52 billion dollars in reserves. Can we not emulate a good idea and a proven approach?
