Enchained Futures: Forced Child Begging in Peshawar

Abstract

Peshawar is the most populous and urbanized city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Child beggars are seen everywhere. The present research study was conducted to determine whether child beggars are subjected to human trafficking by forcing them to beg. To investigate the issue, primary data was collected by in-depth interviews through a non-probability accidental sampling technique from one hundred and twenty (120) child beggars at various locations in the city. It was found that more than three-fourths of the child beggars were tortured regularly. A large majority were unable to leave the profession of begging, although some child beggars had attempted to leave the perpetual web of exploitation. In short, the future of the little angels is at stake in Peshawar.