By Farhan Khalil
PESHAWAR: A standardized registration form has been launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to facilitate transgender persons’ registration with the Social Welfare Department, thereby enhancing their access to social protection programmes, welfare schemes, and government-led relief initiatives. The initiative is a joint effort of Blue Veins, the Social Welfare Department, and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). The launching ceremony was attended by the Government Departments, National Human Rights Institutions, transgender leaders and community members, media, lawyers, and CSOs.
Speakers at the event highlighted the urgency of accurate registration in light of national census data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). According to the 2023 Digital Census, only 20,331 transgender persons were recorded nationwide, a slight decrease from the 21,744 counted in the 2017 census. Civil society organizations and human rights groups, however, emphasize that these official figures significantly underrepresent the actual transgender population, which various community and NGO estimates place in the hundreds of thousands. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, only 173 transgender persons possess an “X” CNIC and 450 are registered with the Social Welfare Department, while the actual population is believed to range between 50,000 and 70,000. Barriers such as difficulties in NADRA registration, social stigma, and fear of harassment continue to keep many from entering official data systems. Speaking at the launch, Additional Secretary Social Welfare Umara Khan said, “This initiative marks an important step toward ensuring that transgender persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are counted, recognized, and supported. Inclusion in official data systems is the gateway to accessing government benefits, employment quotas, and protection mechanisms. Our responsibility is to remove barriers and ensure that no member of this community is left behind.” Provincial Coordinator NCHR Rizwanullah Shah emphasized the human rights dimension, stating, “Accurate data is the foundation of policymaking. When transgender persons are invisible in official records, their challenges remain unaddressed. This registration initiative will help us understand the scale of the community’s needs and allow the government and rights institutions to develop effective, evidence-based solutions.” Programme Manager Blue Veins Qamar Naseem stressed the importance of community engagement, noting, “The gap between official records and the actual transgender population is alarming. This standardized form is a practical tool to bridge that gap and improve access to welfare schemes. Our goal is to support the community in gaining recognition, dignity, and equitable access to services they are fully entitled to.” The new standardized form is expected to help increase the number of transgender persons included in official data, ultimately improving their access to government schemes and protection mechanisms. NADRA officials expressed support by offering mobile registration services at homes and deras. Representatives of the transgender community welcomed the step, expressing hope that it will strengthen their access to welfare schemes, including the legally mandated 0.5 percent job quota, and help secure their rightful inclusion in national data and government support systems.
Edited by Sumayyah Ahmad
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