Transgender
acquire least gender position after women in the country. Since decades their
existence has not been recognized. They have no privileges of being citizens
like other common people.?? Currently,
the government of Pakistan has recognized their status and given them the right
to identify themselves as third gender by adding a category on the National
Identity Cards. It is a step forward, but not enough, Transgender are
stigmatized with ?bad character? people, who are associated with sex, dancing
and begging.? Therefore, their families
and the society do not accept them and the common people lack awareness about
the rights of TG.

Moreover,
they have to face a lot of issues to get admission in schools and colleges because
our society does not accept them as its part while category for TG is missing
in the admission forms.. Even, if they get admission, they have to face lot of
problems because TGs are excluded and face bullying and verbal harassment by
students and teachers at the university, which shatter their confidence and self-esteem
and is one of the reasons for high dropout of TGs. And they cannot continue
their education due to such discriminatory attitudes. A majority of transgender
in Pakistan is, therefore, illiterate and in involved in sex business, begging,
and dancing (few of them are skilled labour) in order to earn money.

There
is a dire need to educate people about transgender issues and their rights in order
to create a friendly environment for TG in the schools and the society. There
is also a need to address the issue at national level and implement the law
regarding third category so that they may easily get admission without any
discrimination. There must be policies and laws on zero discrimination against TGs
on the basis of their gender orientation. If students, teachers or public
violate the laws, they should be punished.

For
Cooperative Action Plan, the committee has decided to continue work on the
issue and made suggestions, which came forward during the dialogue forum. The
participants of the forum nominated themselves on the voluntarily basis to
continue the work.? The committee formed
is a mix of representative from transgender community, students from Gender
Studies department of the Punjab University, one trained youth and NGO
representatives. The committee will later collaborate with the stakeholders for
future dialogue and will design further activities accordingly.

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