KARACHI: In a landmark move, the federal government has decided to extend social welfare cover to the transgender community and invited them to register with Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dawn.com reported on Saturday.

The move, aimed at structural reforms in the social welfare schemes, was approved by the BISP board meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Atta Marri.

In a video message, she said this was the first time in Pakistan’s history that trans people were being provided the opportunity to become beneficiaries of the Benazir Kafalat Programme (BKP). They would have to register with the BISP to benefit from it, she said.

The BISP tweeted: “56th Board Meeting of Benazir Income Support Program, which held under chair of Federal Minister and BISP Chairperson Shazia Atta Marri, has taken decisions of structural reforms, extending benefits to transgender community and aimed to extend all possible help to needy people.”

The minister termed the approval of the transgender policy a “landmark achievement” of the present government and urged the board members to use their “good offices and influence” to mobilise the marginalised community so that the maximum number of transgender persons could benefit from the policy, Dawn.com reported.

She also outlined the process for the members of the transgender community to register themselves with BKP, adding that they would receive Rs7,000 upon successful registration.

For registration, only persons registered with Nadra and whose computerised national identity cards mention they are transgender are eligible to apply.

They can visit BISP office in their relevant tehsil and ask for the survey form at the registration counter. Upon successful registration, they can obtain information on the grant by sending an SMS to 8171.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2022