Pakistani Transgenders Setting Examples

Pakistan has recently come around to making progress in recognizing transgender rights. And we’re here for it.

Last year in June it was announced that computerized national identity cards (CNIC) will be issued to the transgender community, and that facilitation centers would be set up in all districts to help with this.

Very recently, two Pakistani transgenders proved to be role models for not just their community, but also for anyone who finds it difficult to achieve their goals despite the odds.

Alisha (formerly known as Syed Ali Raza), and Aisha Mughal are two people who have earned their M.Phil degrees with high grades.

Alisha is working as a Coordination Consultant for the United Nations Development Program in Pakistan (UNDP). She has done her M.Phil in Education Planning Management from Bahauddin Zakaria University, and has prior work experience at Engro as an assistant accountant.

Aisha is working with the Ministry of Human Rights as a consultant. She has an M.Phil degree in Human Resource Management from COMSATS University in Islamabad. She also has the honor of being the first transgender in the visiting faculty of Quaid-e-Azam University, and taught there for a year as well.

The general image of transgenders in Pakistan has usually been that of sex workers, dancers and it was always difficult for them to find respectable employment. . And for a long time they have been disrespected and ridiculed at the hands of this society. It is great to see finally see the country bring about a change.

Just last year there was a campaign held called ‘#ChangeTheClap’, which aimed to change the mindset Pakistanis have of transgenders. We also saw our very first transgender TV anchor, Marvia Malik, for a Lahore based news channel known as Kohenoor News. And also a transgender employee working for NADRA.

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