Karachi [Pakistan], October 4 (ANI): The transgender community has called on the Sindh government to move beyond policy commitments and ensure effective implementation of measures aimed at improving access to education, employment, healthcare, housing and social protection, as reported by The Express Tribune.
According to The Express Tribune, the demands were raised at the Sindh Transgender Summit organised by the Legal Aid Society (LAS) in collaboration with the Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA) under the Aawaz II programme.
The event brought together transgender representatives, government officials, civil society groups and development partners to examine the gap between legal safeguards and their implementation.
Community representative Aradhiya Khan presented a five-point charter outlining key demands. These included establishing emergency safe houses operated by transgender-led organisations and ensuring the complete implementation of Sindh’s Transgender Education Policy.
The community also called for enforcement of the 0.5 per cent government employment quota without discriminatory medical certification requirements.
Other demands included dedicated wards for transgender patients in public hospitals and the inclusion of registered Khawaja Sira individuals in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Participants also sought scholarships for transgender students, stronger protection against discrimination in educational institutions and access to gender-affirming and sensitive healthcare. They further demanded immediate financial assistance for vulnerable members of the community.
During a panel discussion, participants shared experiences of discrimination and highlighted the need for greater police sensitisation.
They proposed appointing transgender focal persons in every district, expanding vocational training opportunities and providing government funding for initiatives led by the community itself, as cited by The Express Tribune.
Sindh Social Welfare Secretary Munawar Ali Mithani acknowledged the disconnect between existing legal commitments and the realities faced by transgender people.
He said government institutions, NGOs, civil society and the transgender community needed to work together to convert legal rights into practical opportunities, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)
Pakistan: Sindh’s policy gaps leave transgender community struggling for basic rights
