Karachi: In a first, the Sindh government in Pakistan has employed transgender persons in different departments.
Sindh Minister for Social Welfare and Development, Rubina Qaimkhani, confirmed appointment of Riffay Khan, Muskaan and Anjum.
Riffay holds a masters degree, whereas Muskaan and Anjum have both completed their schooling up to matriculation.
According to official estimates there are around 500,000 "gender confused" people in Pakistan and these include eunuchs, hermaphrodites, transsexuals, transvestites and homosexuals in addition to castrated men.
Qaimkhani said that this was the preliminary phase and that other members of the transgender community would also soon be given jobs.
Riffay told reporters he was very happy that the government, while regarding them as respectable citizens of society, provided them jobs.
In 2011, the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave a ruling that transgenders should be issued national ID cards and registered as voters and allowed to cast votes which they did in the general elections in May last year.
