Karachi, September 30, 2026: Legal Aid Society (LAS), in partnership with Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), convened the Sindh Transgender Summit — “From Exclusion to Entitlement: Closing the Rights Gap for the Khawaja Sira Community in Sindh” — under the Aawaz II Programme, led by CARE Pakistan funded by UK International Development from the UK government.
Bindiya Rana, Executive Director, GIA, opened the Summit as a platform for translating community struggle into institutional accountability. Arif Tabassum, Aawaz II Team Lead, CARE Pakistan presented the Aawaz II Programme context, followed by a ‘Voices of Resilience’ address by Sana Ahmed of GIA, and a theatre performance — “Stories from the Margins” — by Khwab-e-Raqs and Transcend Theatre, bringing lived realities to the stage.
The Summit brought together Members of the senior officials from Social Welfare, Health, Education, Home, Labour, BISP/Ehsaas, NADRA, the Sindh Human Rights Commission, and the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women; Khawaja Sira community leaders from across Sindh; civil society organisations; and development partners including Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and CARE Pakistan.
Panel Discussion: Field Realities — Lived Experiences of the Transgender and Khawaja Sira Community
Advocate Maliha Zia, Legal Aid Society, moderated a panel comprising Shahzadi Rai, Kami Chaudhry, Sanam Fakeer, Dr. Sara Gill, Rayhan Muqadam, and Aradhiya Khan. The panellists examined eight interconnected reform areas: emergency safe houses; full implementation of the Transgender Education Policy; enforcement of the 0.5% employment quota with removal of medical certificate requirements; dedicated hospital wards; BISP activation; police sensitisation and designation of transgender focal persons in every district; legal recognition of the Guru system; and direct government funding with structured vocational training models.
Charter of Demands: Community Voice, Government Accountability
Aradhiya Khan presented the five-point Charter of Demands on behalf of the Transgender and Khawaja Sira community of Sindh:
01. Safe Homes — Establish emergency safe houses managed by transgender-led organisations.
02. Education for All — Fully implement Sindh’s Transgender Education Policy with scholarships and protection from discrimination.
03. Equal Employment — Enforce the 0.5% government job quota and remove discriminatory medical certification requirements.
04. Healthcare with Dignity — Establish dedicated wards in public hospitals with gender-affirming, sensitive care.
05. Social Protection — Activate BISP inclusion and provide immediate financial assistance to all registered Khawaja Sira individuals.
Chief Guest Remarks — Government’s Commitment
Munawar Ali Mithani, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Sindh, acknowledged the persistent gap between legal commitments and lived realities, and affirmed the Government’s commitment to action across all five demand areas — the Transgender Education Policy, employment quota, BISP integration, and dedicated healthcare facilities.
“Things can be done when we put our heads together. The Government, NGOs, civil society and the transgender community must work collectively to turn rights into real opportunities—through safe spaces, skills development, education and employment.” Munawar Ali Mithani, Secretary, Social Welfare, Government of Sindh.
Amir Ali Khan, Director General, NADRA, “reaffirmed NADRA’s commitment to working closely with the Social Welfare Department and disability stakeholders to identify gaps, improve registration and access to services, review policies, and ensure more accessible, efficient and responsive services.”
Reflecting on the significance of the summit, Adil Sheraz, Country Director, CARE Pakistan, noted: “Today’s Summit is an important step towards turning rights on paper into rights in practice. Lasting change requires listening to the Khawaja Sira community, strengthening institutional accountability, and ensuring that commitments translate into tangible action.”
Concluding Remarks — LAS’s Commitment to Change
Haya Emaan Zahid, CEO, Legal Aid Society, declared the Summit a decisive shift from consultation to commitment. She urged all departments to treat the Commitment Tracker as a binding roadmap, and reaffirmed LAS’s commitment to sustained monitoring, legal aid, and advocacy alongside the Khawaja Sira community.
“Today’s evidence is both compelling and sobering. LAS will stand alongside the community until every commitment made here translates into real, measurable change.” — Haya Emaan Zahid, CEO, Legal Aid Society
The Summit concluded with a renewed resolve to close the implementation gap and build a rights-centred system for the Khawaja Sira community across Sindh.