KP Govt presents bill to set up a Rs50 million endowment fund for the province’s trans community

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) govt has put forth a bill in the provincial assembly to allot an Rs50 million endowment fund for the transgender community in the province.

Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Anwar Zeb Khan presented the bill during a session that was chaired by Deputy Speaker Mahmood Jan. Titled ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transgender Persons Welfare Endowment Fund Act, 2022,’ the bill maintains that the fund will be established with an initial sum of RS50 million.

It said that from time to time, the fund may be credited with government grants, grants from non-governmental organizations, and any other organization that is working for the welfare of the trans community. To facilitate this process, a special committee will also be set up to supervise the utilization of these funds for the welfare activities of the community.

This committee will provide financial help and interest-free loans on a small scale to members of the transgender community. The bill stated that under Article 38 of the Constitution, the state shall secure and promote social and economic well-being by providing facilities to people irrespective of their creed, sex, race, or caste.

The bill further added that Section 8 of the proposed ‘Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018,’ states that the government shall take necessary steps to encourage trans people to start small businesses by providing grants, loan schemes, and incentives.

If turned into legislation, this will prove to be highly beneficial as trans people are the most vulnerable segment of our society. They are discriminated against the most in the country, especially in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Those working for the rights of the trans community say that the province has approximately 40,000 to 50,000 trans people, while the 2017 general census said the number was 1,000.

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