Acting mayor wants data on transgender persons collected

PESHAWAR: Capital Metropolitan Government Acting Mayor Sahibzada Akhundzada Zahidullah Shah on Wednesday called for data collection on transgender persons to extend support and make them productive citizens.

He suggested this while speaking to a delegation of transgender persons led by Da Umeed Kor Foundation Chairperson Sobia Khan and other community representatives.

Zahidullah, who is acting as mayor as Mayor Zubair Ali has proceeded to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, alleged that certain elements were spreading vulgarity in society and bringing a bad name to the transgender community. He said such elements should be identified to help protect the rights of the transgender community.

The acting mayor asked the transgender persons to leave Iqbal Plaza and start jobs to integrate into society.

Iqbal Plaza is located on Dilzak Road and a good number of transgender persons live there for lack of acceptability in other localities.

He said the Capital Metropolitan Government would create employment opportunities for transgender persons by providing them with sewing machines to set up tailoring shops and establish beauty salons.

The acting mayor acknowledged that some of the transgender persons were not receiving treatment for illness in Peshawar. He suggested that those transgender persons living in Peshawar should shift to their hometowns where their documents could be verified easily to receive treatment.

Earlier, Sobia Khan said the members of the community were not getting respect in society. She asked the government to support the community and find a lasting solution to their problems.