Over 1,000 transpersons get vocational training

More than 1,000 transgender individuals across Punjab have been trained in modern vocational skills under Pehchaan, the province's first government-backed initiative for the community, launched by the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) in November 2024 on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

According to official figures, 1,054 transgender persons have completed courses in fields such as beauty and grooming, culinary arts, information technology, handicrafts, performing arts, and digital freelancing.

Of these, over 980 have secured jobs while others have launched small businesses.

The program, implemented in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala, provided stipends, travel allowances, professional toolkits, and assistance with registration at NADRA and Punjab's Social Economic Registry to ensure sustainability.

Eighteen partner institutions, including Depilex, Khawaja Sira Society and STEP, collaborated with PSDF to deliver the training.

PSDF Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Khan said the transgender community had long been excluded from opportunities available to others. "The Pehchaan program is not only giving them skills but also creating pathways to employment, dignity, and economic inclusion," he noted.

Several organisations have also launched complementary initiatives.

The Gender Guardian, Pakistan's first school for transgender persons in Lahore, continues to provide academic and vocational courses including cooking, tailoring, computer literacy and grooming.