The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department has introduced a new registration form for transgender individuals, aiming to facilitate their inclusion in official records and improve access to welfare programs, social protection schemes, and government assistance.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Blue Veins, the Social Welfare Department, and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). The launch event was attended by Additional Secretary Social Welfare Umra Khan, NADRA Deputy Director Shahid Khan, NCHR Provincial Coordinator Rizwan Ullah Shah, Blue Veins Program Manager Qamar Naseem, representatives of the transgender community, and officials from various government and non-government departments.
Officials highlighted that a lack of accurate and transparent data has been a major barrier for transgender individuals. According to the 2023 census, only about 20,000 transgender individuals were officially recorded nationwide, while NGOs estimate the actual population to be in the hundreds of thousands. In KP, very few transgender people hold NADRA’s “X” identity cards, leaving them largely excluded from government benefits.
Additional Secretary Umra Khan said, “Including the transgender community in government records is our responsibility. Until they are formally recognized, they cannot access state-provided facilities, job quotas, or protection mechanisms. This form is a crucial step toward ensuring every individual feels safe and empowered.”
Rizwan Ullah Shah of NCHR added, “Providing human rights begins with accurate data. If a community is not in official records, its issues remain invisible. This step opens new avenues for policy-making and effective interventions.”
Blue Veins Program Manager Qamar Naseem emphasized that the registration form will bridge the gap between official records and actual population figures, giving the community confidence that their identity is recognized at the state level.
NADRA officials announced that mobile registration units will visit homes, shelters, and other locations to register transgender individuals who may hesitate to visit offices due to social pressures or security concerns. Officials stressed that district-level social welfare offices must maintain continuous contact with the community to remove practical barriers during the registration process.
