Transgender people to sell fabric bags

Makeshift stalls will be provided to them free of cost

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said on Monday authorities had given transgender people the incentive of setting up free stalls to sell paper and fabric bags to help them earn a respectable earning and participate in efforts to combat pollution. Shafqaat said though his administration would not provide free bags or capital to transgender people to start their work, makeshift stalls would be provided to them free of cost and they would not have to pay the daily rent of between Rs15,000 and Rs20,000. Shafqaat told Arab News that the initiative might not “bring a revolution” but “our efforts will certainly bear fruit. Involving transgender [people] will boost our drive.” Nadeem Kashish, a transgender activist said: “We approached the authorities to give us the opportunity of getting a respectable livelihood through this drive. Through contributions we have collected around Rs10,000 and bought some 400 bags.” They have set profit margin of Rs5 for each bag of Rs25.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2019.