Call for taking steps for wellbeing of transpersons

BISP Chairperson pushes for financial empowerment of trans-community

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Shazia Marri Monday called for taking steps to ensure transgenders' inclusion in the mainstream.

She was addressing a conference arranged by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), via Zoom-link in Islamabad today.

The conference was arranged under the title “Financial Inclusion among Transgender Community in Pakistan. She said financial empowerment of the transgender community, awareness for them among the masses, and acceptance in society are the issues being faced by vulnerable and marginalised segments, particularly the transgender community of Pakistan. Shazia Marri lauded the socio-economic contribution of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in upbringing this marginalized and vulnerable society of Pakistan and awareness of their rights.

She also commended the role played by transgender community leaders Ms. Bindiya Rana and Ms Reem Sharif in highlighting the issues being faced by their community. She called upon Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, to arrange more seminars on the topic in order to highlight the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2023.