Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Human Rights and Women Empowerment said that the government was committed to providing all fundamental rights to the transgender community at the gross root level. According to her, over 0.3 million transgenders were being registered with the concerned government department and the government was planning a mass campaign with the name of “Dukhtar” for protection, skilled training programs, and job provision for the trans community.
Transgenders are the most marginalized and highly deprived segment of our society. Transgender Community has been a victim of hatred, social injustice, and gender disparity in the broader Indo-Subcontinent throughout history. After the independence, Pakistani society also displayed a cold shoulder toward Transgender rights largely due to a lack of knowledge, prejudice, and ignorance. Due to social discrimination and the absence of a regular profession or job, most members of the transgender community beg on the streets causing adultery and polluting the environment in society.
Transgender persons are guaranteed all fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act not only paved the way for their recognition as transgender persons and respected citizens but also provided them with their due rights in society. In addition, the Act recognizes transgender people’s right to property inheritance, voting, education, employment, healthcare, assembly, access to public places and to hold public office like other common citizens of the country. The government is working to collect exact data of transgender population, to provide them with education, health care, jobs, social security, vocational training, and other opportunities to make them productive and economically self-sufficient citizens of the country. Although public leaders often made tall claims and expressed bookish knowledge, however, ground realities are very bitter and deplorable.
Transgenders are living a miserable life and facing utmost discrimination in society. All human beings are equal, however, any mental and health disability must not cause disparity and segregation among the members of the community whereas the state and society have a role in assisting special persons or persons with Disabilities including transgenders in enabling them to live a normal life in society. So, they do not become a burden on their family or state but play a constructive role in the development and promotion of society and the country.
