ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Friday launched a drive to get the transgender persons registered across the country to mark the international day of human rights.

In a bid to enhance the registration of transgender persons and create awareness, Nadra has launched countrywide campaign “Trans-Rights are Human Rights”.

In this regard the authority is giving training to field officers/officials on Dec 13 to sensitise them to the right of transgender persons which would ultimately help them register them.

Nadra has so far registered 5,626 transgender persons who opted for a gender other than male or female. The authority further aims at creating awareness about the significance of legal identity for empowering the transgender community.

In this milieu, Nadra has engaged Ministry of Human Rights, Provincial/District Social Welfare Departments to mobilise the transgender persons for CNIC registration in order to help them eliminate long-standing discrimination, exclusion and sporadic violence.

Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik held meeting with transgender persons hailing from different parts of the country.

During the meeting he said this year on the occasion of International Human Rights Day we are asserting that trans-rights are also human rights.

Achieving meaningful progress on SDG 16.9 & 10.2 towards sustainable human development, we must promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable segments of the society and take measures for creating an inclusive society with effective participation of transgender persons, he added.

He said Nadra has taken this daunting task of bringing the transgender persons in the fold of inclusive society by issuing them the basic identity document i.e CNIC. My message is clear to all genders, “Be yourself, we will adjust. To be perceived as what you say is your basic right.” said Tariq Malik.

Nadra is the only organisation that has provided equal opportunities to the transgender persons to get jobs and be a part of the organisation.

Nadra has already employed transgender persons in Nadra as per their qualification and experience.

In this regard, special Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) are being deployed on Dec 10 for registration of transgender persons in coordination with ministry of human rights and

District Social Welfare Deptt /NGOs in the areas where a large number of transgender community is residing. First time CNIC registration is free for all transgender persons.

Moreover, MRV is also being deployed at First Transgender Persons School in Multan. The school provides basic education, vocational training which is staffed by transgender teachers.