Pakistan's first-ever school for transgender community set to open its doors

E-Paper | March 08, 2026

A school for the education and vocational training of Pakistan's transgender community is set to open its doors from April 15 in Lahore, DawnNewsTV reported on Friday.

Named The Gender Guardian, the school offers a full 12 years of academic education from the primary level to matriculation, and then leading up to college.

The school will also impart technical education, such as fashion designing, beautician and hair styling courses, graphic designing, computer and mobile repairing, among others.

Asif Shahzad, the school's founder, told DawnNewsTV that the school has been built by an NGO named Exploring Future Foundation and that after the Lahore branch's opening, two more such schools will be established in Islamabad and Karachi.

Read: Life no bed of roses for third gender

The management said that more than 40 aspiring students from the transgender community have already registered with the soon-to-be operational school and will be a part of the opening batch.

Shahzad said that the school has 15 faculty members — three of whom themselves are from the transgender community.

The school will be formally launched through an opening ceremony at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore's Alhamra Hall, with several names from the showbiz industry expected to attend.

Pakistan

Rana Bilal is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with over nine years of experience covering legal affairs, justice-sector developments, and environmental issues. He can be found on X at @ranabilaldawn.

Life no bed of roses for third gender

Allama Iqbal Open University announces free education for transgenders

I'm an educated trans woman in Pakistan who struggles to find work — here's my story

Apr 06, 2018 06:03pm

It is a good move but my question is why separate school for them? Why are we giving them an impression that they are different than us? Please think.

Recommend 0

Surya Kant

Apr 06, 2018 06:04pm

Beautiful people

Recommend 0

Shailesh

Apr 06, 2018 06:27pm

Nice initiative by our Pak counterparts. I don't know if we have such schools for other gender in India but we should take such initiatives as well if we don't already.

Recommend 0

Ali

Apr 06, 2018 06:37pm

Do we need to have separate schools for our transgender community? Why not one school for all? The transgender girls can be educated in girls school and transgender boys in boys school.

Recommend 0

Khalid iqbal

Apr 06, 2018 06:46pm

Trans gender should be brought in the medical profession , train Them as nurses and para medical staff, transgender people have a lot of empathy , and placed in the right direction it will be of great help .

Recommend 0

Seedoo

Apr 06, 2018 06:59pm

I am all in favor of giving and protecting the rights of transgenders, but giving them their separate schools is telling them they need to remain segregated from the mainstream, and, therefore, is itself a discriminatory act. They should be educated in regular schools. It is true, they will initially face harassment by those who are not, but others need to learn to accept them as one of their own. This is exactly what we have done with girls and boys, by keeping them in separate schools, they never learn how to properly interact with one another.

Recommend 0

daanish

Apr 06, 2018 07:02pm

Well done.

Recommend 0

Bloo

Apr 06, 2018 07:20pm

Good initiative. All the best

Recommend 0

Pak PATRIOT

Apr 06, 2018 07:30pm

This is an example of Pakistan coming of age to be a Truly Progressive, Caring and Enlightened Country of the 21st Century. Proud of Pakistan today, treat all your citizens equally, the world will respect you.

Recommend 0

Rahshid KHAN

Apr 06, 2018 07:34pm

@KK 100% agree. They will feel to be integral part of the society only if they are living with the society not separate from it. Nevertheless, half-good in better than no-good.

Recommend 0

Dr. Abdul Qadir, Balcoh

Apr 06, 2018 07:43pm

it is best step and best decision in favour of oppressed class of our society but it must not be stop at martic level but it may be enhanced upto university level as there was no room for the trans gender community and every where they saw hat. it step shall definitely open the doors for the community people in public sector and private also.

Recommend 0

Agha Ata

Apr 06, 2018 07:51pm

An excellent step forward. I wish all the success and happiness to transgenders who havev suffered so much in the past..

Recommend 0

pure stream

Apr 06, 2018 08:17pm

Separate school may be because of nil acceptance amongst masses.To begin with,atleast give em a school and gradually induce them into mainstream society.However,these showbiz invitees sometime cross cultural red lines...stay hopeful

Recommend 0

Aamir

Apr 06, 2018 08:18pm

@KK I was going to say the same thing. This is form of self segregation they should be able to attend any school that they choose and should feel safe. If they feel the need to open their own school, because they are bullied or look down upon, then there is something wrong with society and that is what needs to change.

Recommend 0

Waseem

Apr 06, 2018 08:28pm

Glad to see this news. Keep it up guys. Every person has full right to live a good life.

Recommend 0

Ashraf Hoss

Apr 06, 2018 08:41pm

So how can you say good move?

Recommend 0

Apr 06, 2018 10:00pm

Even in advanced societies like the US, blacks, who were not allowed to read and write, were first allowed into separate schools then later they fought for desegregation. I think this is a good first step but it should have come from the government, not an NGO..

Recommend 0

Mir

Apr 06, 2018 10:04pm

Good.... Pakistan zindabad

Recommend 0

pkhan

Apr 06, 2018 10:04pm

Planning to donate for this organisation if you can please provide me with their email.

Recommend 0

Sanaullah

Apr 06, 2018 11:19pm

Good initiative

Recommend 0

candasuck

Apr 06, 2018 11:30pm

@Seedoo You made good point. But us Pakistani is not ready for this coeducational system. Even in western countries Pakistani Families still want segregation between man and woman. It will take time

Recommend 0

neo

Apr 06, 2018 11:59pm

@KK because sadly we live in a conservative society where these kids will be bullied if not separated from those schools. Hopefully, with time we will be able to accept individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.

Recommend 0

Fnews

Apr 07, 2018 12:52am

@KK who are you really talking about is the question!

Recommend 0

Fnews

Apr 07, 2018 12:53am

@Khalid iqbal put them in the q elementary schools!

Recommend 0

Fnews

Apr 07, 2018 12:54am

@Waseem but it's not up to your group...it's their right, and you will have problems as longas you keep offering a right as a favor.

Recommend 0

Fnews

Apr 07, 2018 12:56am

@ga what is ngo in ur world?

Recommend 0

Apr 07, 2018 01:51am

@KK because mainstream society discriminates and laughs at trans people. Right thing to do for providing education in s safe and respectful environment.

Recommend 0

Lkmohan

Apr 07, 2018 05:51am

Good initiative. Let them stand on their feet. Earn their livelyhood.

Recommend 0

AbdulRahman

Apr 07, 2018 07:19am

This is indeed a good initiative. However, the real question is how to bring them in the mainstream of the society. The media can play a greater role to bring the respectable status in the society where they can earn money and live a life like a male or female does. A separate school for the trans is fine but they should not be separated in the outer world from other people. All should be encouraged to interact with them. It is a great example to the whole world. Now the trans at least have a good platform where they can get education and prosper without a humiliation and contemptuous glances. A new page of development has been written for the trans. I am a male by gender and like my transgender brothers/sisters. I have my best wishes for their overall development. Go ahead and prove yourself!

Recommend 0

Be honest

Apr 07, 2018 07:36am

Separate schools are needed to avoid other students bullying them.

Recommend 0

Ayesha Hafeez

Apr 08, 2018 04:06am

Its really a good step!!!!! It is betterto have separate school for them initially till their acceptance in society as professionals.Its a preprational first step towards their acceptance. This school will work like a nursey for baby plants where they will be kept in shade and protection till they get strength to be implanted in the main garden under the sunlight in open. But the need is to encourage them to come back in society its the responsibility to everone of us .please discourage those who redicule them. Need is to open more than one school nearby their homes in the fringes of cities to facilitate them.Please donate for the openings of more schools like this.

Recommend 0

Ayesha Hafeez

Apr 08, 2018 04:07am

Please tell me how to donate for this school.

Recommend 0

Sadia khan

Apr 08, 2018 01:31pm

It has always been my wish to open up a school for transgenders but since you have taken this initiative I would LOVE to give my services I would like to teach there I am a Masters Degree Holder in Gender Studies

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Women in Thar: Breaking barriers, transforming lives

Thar Foundation has enabled hundreds of women to step into roles that once seemed unimaginable.

ParkView City homebuyers can now avail UBL Home Financing

The initiative enables aspiring homeowners to purchase property through formal banking channels instead of paying the full amount upfront.

Is your parents’ health insurance really complete?

Most plans only cover hospital stays. But what about a simple flu or a routine consultation? Here is why Jubilee General Parents Care Plus Plan is being called “Sub say complete coverage”.