DOHA: A new ‘begging’ trend has emerged, according to complaints.
Some people, believed to be mostly runaway workers, block parking areas in crowded places and offer them to motorists, expecting some money in return, reports Al Raya.
The activity is commonly seen at parking areas of hospitals, primary health centres, souqs and mosques.
Several Qataris told the Arabic daily that these people are exploiting Ramadan, at places where motorists rush to park.
Motorists pay between QR5 and QR10 sympathising with them who help them find parking space. Citizens claimed this activity is being practised by people from Asian countries.
Sayed Al Kahthani said, “These people won’t ask for money. But they will make you sympathise with them so that you pay some amount for making it convenient for you to get a place to park your vehicle. It’s a form of beginning, it should be stopped.
“Some also claim they are sick and will show medical reports or wounds or bandages. They use different ways to get money. They divide different parking areas among themselves. Before it was only in Doha, now you can see them in Al Wakra as well,” he said.
Others complained that security guards in parking areas of commercial complexes ignore these ‘gangs’.
Abdul Hameed Noor said, “Some of them who block parking lots are runaway workers and security guards ignore them. This is one of the worst ways of begging, which should be stopped by authorities.
These people say they earn a minimum of QR100 each per day.
“We block parking lots and offer them to motorists and they pay us voluntarily. They pay between QR5 and QR10, it helps us survive. During Ramadan, people show generosity and pay more,” said one who blocks parking lots near Nujada Mosque.
He works in a cleaning company during the day and goes to the parking area after Magrib prayer. “I come here after I finish my work and collect between QR100 and QR150 per day,” he said. The Peninsula
