Incidents of alleged public harassment have occurred due to an influx of professional beggars during the holy month of Ramadan, where citizens are being cursed for not giving alms, while the local administration has not yet intervened.
A significant increase in the number of beggars has been observed throughout the Okara district during Ramadan. These individuals are reportedly spread across public places such as streets, neighborhoods, and markets in the city and its adjacent areas.
Observers say that various methods are used for begging. Some women have been seen making dramatic appeals while wearing veils, while other women, carrying small children, are seen begging for 18 to 20 hours a day.
Despite laws banning beggary, its prevalence continues to increase. The local administration is being described as a “silent spectator,” where a lack of law enforcement allows this situation to persist, prompting calls for legal action and arrests against those involved.