Pakistan, Nov. 5 -- Punjab has moved to tighten the noose around those who turn childhood into a begging business. On Tuesday, the provincial assembly's Home Affairs Committee unanimously approved amendments to the vagrancy law, raising the protected age from 14 to 16 and proposing imprisonment of up to three years, alongside fines reaching Rs300,000, for parents and guardians who exploit children for begging or allow others to do so. The move deserves appreciation, particularly for recognising that children forced onto the streets require protection rather than punishment.

Punjab registered 2,693 child-begging cases during the first six months of 2025. Not one conviction was recorded in that period, while 2,669 cases remained under tria...