A Punjab Assembly committee has approved the Punjab Vagrancy (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing stronger legal safeguards against the exploitation of children for begging by increasing the protected age limit from 14 to 16 years.
The bill was approved by the committee chaired by MPA Safdar Hussain Sahi at a meeting attended by lawmakers and officials from the provincial assembly and relevant government departments.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance, 1958, by strengthening child protection measures, defining enforcement responsibilities and establishing a coordinated system for anti-begging operations and rehabilitation.
Under the amendments, parents and guardians could face legal action if they force children to beg, allow others to exploit them for begging or negligently fail to prevent such exploitation.
Violations would carry imprisonment ranging from three months to three years, along with fines between Rs100,000 and Rs300,000.
The bill also proposes appointing the director general of Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Punjab as the controller, granting the office authority to coordinate anti-vagrancy operations, inspect welfare and rehabilitation centres, maintain a central database, issue standard operating procedures and supervise rehabilitation programmes.
The amendments further aim to strengthen coordination between government departments and improve the monitoring of individuals taken into custody and subsequently placed in rehabilitation facilities.
The proposed legislation will repeal an earlier amending ordinance issued in 2026 and incorporate the changes into provincial law through formal legislation.
The increased age limit and stricter penalties are intended to discourage the exploitation of children by families and organised begging networks. However, the effectiveness of the measures will depend on the availability of rehabilitation centres, trained personnel and sufficient financial resources.
Concerns have also been raised over provisions holding parents and guardians responsible for negligence, particularly in cases involving economically vulnerable households. Without adequate social protection and livelihood assistance, enforcement could result in punitive action against struggling families without addressing the underlying causes of child begging.
Separately, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law has unanimously approved the Punjab Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Bill, 2026, which proposes resolving specified civil, family, property and other disputes through mediation within 30 days.
The bill was approved at a committee meeting chaired by MPA Muhammad Arshad Malik. Parliamentary Secretary for Law Khalid Mahmood Ranjha, along with officials from the assembly, Law Department and other relevant departments, also attended.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a faster, more affordable and accessible mechanism for resolving disputes through mediation and mutual agreement, reducing pressure on the conventional judicial system.
Under the proposed framework, selected civil, family, property, inheritance, financial and minor compoundable criminal cases could be referred to trained mediators to facilitate mutually acceptable settlements.
The mediation process would be completed within 30 days, with a possible extension of up to 60 days where required.
If the parties reach an agreement, the settlement would be submitted to the relevant court for approval and enforcement in accordance with the law. If mediation fails, the dispute would return to the regular judicial process.
The bill also includes provisions to maintain the confidentiality of mediation proceedings and allow overseas Pakistanis to participate through video conferencing. It further proposes appointing female mediators, where possible, in cases involving women.
A key component of the legislation is the proposed establishment of an autonomous Punjab ADR Authority, headed by a retired High Court judge. The authority would regulate the mediation system, oversee the training and performance of mediators and ensure the effective implementation of the law.
The proposed framework is intended to encourage out-of-court settlements in suitable cases, improve access to justice and reduce litigation costs and delays for citizens.
