Fabric bags making project launched for transgenders in Swat

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department has launched eco-friendly fabric bags manufacturing project for the transgender community to discourage the use of plastic shopping bags in the Swat district.

The project would accommodate transgenders living in Swat regardless of their district of origin to produce environment-friendly fabric bags, said an official handout. The project has been initiated to provide an alternative and dignified source of income generation to transgender persons, who would make fabric bags with the assistance of the district administration. The aim of the project is to replace plastic bags with eco-friendly fabric bags by providing raw material and transporting the finished product to market.

Swat Additional Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Zamin Khan inaugurated the project. He assured transgender persons of protecting their rights and directed all the assistant commissioners to resolve their issues at the earliest. District Social Welfare Officer Nusrat Iqbal said that 32 sewing machines have been distributed among the transgender community, once the demand for fabric bags is created in the market, manufactures (transgenders) and local vendors would sell and buy fabric bags directly. The district administration, she said, would monitor the process.

In the long run, plastic bags would be banned in Swat that is famous for its beauty and safe environment. Muhammad Haseeb Khan, a representative of Environmental Protection Society, assured all possible assistance to support the efforts of district administration for the wellbeing of transgender persons. He said that they would also train transgender persons in beautician course and will start a beauty parlour for the community, as they cannot visit women’s beauty parlours in Swat. Member of transgender community Nadia said that they were very happy with the project. She hoped the project would help them earn a living and live a dignified life.