Punjab Vagrancy Bill 2026 lifts child age to 16 years
The Punjab begging law update cleared by a Home Affairs committee would jail guardians and fine them up to Rs300,000 for using children to beg.
The Punjab Assembly Committee on Home Affairs unanimously approved the Punjab Vagrancy (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Parents or guardians who use children for begging, allow exploitation, or negligently fail to stop it could face three months to three years in jail and fines of Rs100,000 to Rs300,000.
The child protection age under the Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance, 1958, would rise from 14 to 16 years.
The director general of Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal, Punjab, would act as controller for anti-begging coordination, inspections, a central database and rehabilitation oversight.
The bill would replace an earlier 2026 amending ordinance by putting those measures into provincial legislation.