Parents and guardians who force children to beg in Punjab can now be jailed for up to three years and fined up to Rs300,000 under a new ordinance that came into force immediately after the approval.
According to media reports, governor Punjab approved the Punjab Vagrancy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, and a gazette notification has been issued.
The ordinance raises the legal age of a child from 14 to 16 years, extending legal protection to a wider group of minors. Anyone found pushing a child into begging will face prosecution under the amended law.
It also changes the enforcement structure. The Director General of Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal has been appointed Controller of Vagrancy and will oversee action against begging in the province.
Police officials said the ordinance will help curb the exploitation of children and stop their use for begging.