Consultative workshop holds threadbare discussion on mainstreaming of transgender community.

PESHAWAR -- An insightful consultative workshop here on Wednesday discussed measures for bringing the highly marginalized community of transgender into the mainstream by enhancing their registration process with Social Welfare Department, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Human Rights and other institutions.

The workshop was jointly organized by Social Welfare, Special Education and Women Empowerment Department, Peace and Justice Network and Blue Veins.

People from different walks of life participated in the workshop and gave their inputs on hurdles hampering registration of transgender in official data.

'The initiative of registration of transgender community is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive society and will help in reaching out to the marginalized segment in execution of any welfare oriented scheme or rehabilitation process,' observed Qamar Naseem, Programme Manager, Blue Veins.

Speaking in the welcome address, Qamar Naseem said by holding consultation of the relevant departments we can facilitate a comprehensive understanding and shape a more effective strategy for transgender registration.

Due to lack of registration, the transgender community is not added in data on basis of which government's scheme for the welfare of marginalized communities are chalked out and executed.

After registration this segment can be brought to the mainstream and will get an opportunity from benefiting the policies chalked out for their betterment, Qamar added.

President Transgender Association and a social activist, Arzo apprised participants of the workshop that majority of transgender are not availing from Benazir Income Support programme due to lack of official documents and non-inclusion in official data.

Similarly, a large number of transgender who were affected due to devastating floods of 2022 have totally missed relief and rehabilitation measures due to lack of any official identity cards with them, she added.

She said there are some concerns of transgender over issuance of X cards to them which according to them reduces their share from inheritance by declaring them as `Shemail'.

Furthermore, Arzo continued, not allowing of Saudi government to bearer of X cards from entering into holy land for performance of religious pilgrimage also caused reluctance in obtaining...