Pakistan, Aug. 2 -- The Punjab government on Saturday launched a coordinated crackdown on organised beggar mafias across the province, with Lahore selected as the first city to be made "beggar-free" under a comprehensive anti-begging campaign.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi at the Home Department to review measures against organised vagrant networks. Senior officials from the Home, Social Welfare, Police, Punjab Safe Cities Authority, FIA, Health and School Education departments attended the meeting.

Chairing the meeting, Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi directed all relevant departments to implement a coordinated strategy to eliminate organised begging from Lahore in the first phase before e...