Sindh Assembly on Monday passed a law to reserve 0.5% job quota for trans persons in various provincial government departments. Sindh becomes the first province in Pakistan to pass the law on it, after many years of struggle from the transgender community.
The bill states, “trans persons are a marginalized and vulnerable segment of our society. The history of trans people in Pakistan is fraught with violence, socio-political exclusion, economic inequality and emotional insensitivity. In this respect, it is to empower and include such a vulnerable and weak community in the mainstream of the society. For this purpose it has been decided to reserve a 0.5 per cent quota for transgenders.”
The law has been implemented as an amendment to “Sindh Civil Servants Act 1973” and was passed under Deputy Speaker Rehana Leghari. As per this amendment, out of a total 41,000 vacant jobs in government department, around 206 posts will be given to trans persons.
Speaking to the The Express Tribune Bindiya Rana, a transgender woman who is also President of General Interactive Alliance appreciated the Sindh government’s decision- sharing that it is a big moment for her community. “We are now facing a big challenge in issuing national identity cards. NADRA creates hurdles for it by adopting the delaying tactics,” Bindiya Rana added in an appeal to the federal government to facilitate the transgender community in getting ID cards without delay.
