Wanted to bring transgender people into the mainstream, says Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah. Photo: Geo.tv/Files

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Wednesday announced a fixed five per cent quota to employ transgender folks in all government departments.

Sindh Chief Minister's Adviser on Information Senator Murtaza Wahab confirmed the news in a post on social media.

“Sindh Cabinet has decided today that a five per cent quota shall be fixed for transgender in all government departments,” Wahab said on Twitter.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said he wanted to bring transgender people into the mainstream.

He further instructed that papers for government jobs should be readied, adding that the transgender community should work on their education as well.

Read also: Police to allow transgender recruits in Sindh

Earlier this month, the Sindh chief minister had said the transgender people were the most neglected and ignored members of the society and that the government must allocate a reasonable quota for the recruitment of transgender people in all government departments, including the police.

He had directed the chief secretary to prepare a working paper for the cabinet so that jobs could be allocated for transgender people and urged NGOs and other organisations working for the welfare of transgender folks to educate them and bring them in government service.

Read also: Human rights ministry appoints first transgender person

Earlier this year, Inspector-General (IG) of the Sindh Police Syed Kaleem Imam had announced to employ transgender people in the force.

“We will make them part of Sindh police,” Imam said. “They are good God-gifted people. Citizens like us. We should stand by them.”

In a major step forward in 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that transgender people could receive national identity cards as a “third sex” and in 2017, the government issued its first passport with a transgender category.

