Skilled Punjab Programme launched for transgender community

LAHORE:In a groundbreaking initiative by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has launched a new programme, CM’s Skills Development Programme for transgender to drive social change and inclusion.

The primary focus of this programme is to empower the transgender community through comprehensive skills development and income generation opportunities through the provision of toolkits and concessionary loans.

Pakistan's transgender community is estimated to be over 4 million but remains marginalised. Across the country, only 20,000 transgender individuals are registered, resulting in exclusion from formal education, skills training and employment opportunities.

In light of these challenges, CM Punjab is eager to empower transgender community by providing access to formal education and training in market-relevant trades. The objective of this programme is to skill 2,200 transgender individuals and provide them with on-the-job training resulting in meaningful employment opportunities over 2 years.

This programme aims to focus on skills training in market-relevant trades like performing arts, beauty services, domestic tailoring, culinary arts and IT with an inclusive approach that incorporates Gurus and other transgender individuals as trainers. This ensures that the training is not only comprehensive but also culturally sensitive and empathetic, with dedicated classrooms thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of the transgender community.

In order to mobilise transgender individuals for the programme, PSDF has entered a strategic partnership with Khawaja Sira Society. Mahnoor Chaudhry, Director of Khawaja Sira Society, emphasised on what part they will play in making this collaboration fruitful saying, ‘We will identify and mobilise potential transgender trainees through community engagement and will facilitate the creation of CNICs, provide access to HIV testing, and conduct capacity-building sessions to raise awareness about the programme’s outcomes. Additionally, we will ensure continuous collaboration with PSDF to track progress and ensure successful integration into the workforce.’

Financial support is a key component of the programme as trainees will have access to concessionary micro-finance and toolkits increasing the prospects of starting businesses or securing jobs. Additionally, the programme will assist transgender individuals with registration and documentation with NADRA, enhancing their social and financial inclusion.