Pakistan opens public school for transgender students

Pakistan has opened a public school exclusively for transgender pupils, believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country.

Around 20 students will attend the school, which was established by the government-run literacy department in the Lodhran district, in the Punjab province, according to Daily Pakistan.

Chief spokesperson of the chief minister of the Punjab in Pakistan, Shahbaz Gil, shared a video taken in the classroom of the school on Twitter.

He wrote: “Transgender school established in Lodhran city under Literacy department. Under Usman Buzdar’s leadership Punjab will grow and prosper inshallah.”

Last year, the region’s School Education Department directed education authorities to make sure transgender children are treated as equals in government-run and private schools across the area.

Transgender school established in lodhran city under Literacy department. Under Usman buzdar’s leadership Punjab will grow and prosper inshallah. pic.twitter.com/zgadhWW5B6

— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@ShabazGil) February 20, 2019

First transgender government employee

Last year, the Pakistani government hired its first transgender employee.

The Benazir Income Support Programme, a federal unconditional cash transfer poverty reduction programme, announced the historic hire in a letter stating the new employee would join the Islamabad headquarters as a cafeteria cook.

“It is still unbelievable I got a respectable government job on merit and now I will be able to earn money with full respect and dignity,” said the new employee, knows as Nomi, talking to the Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune.