Aawaz II forum brings community voices from five districts directly to provincial decision-makers
Karachi, 16 May 2026 — The Legal Aid Society (LAS), under the Aawaz II Programme implemented by Care Pakistan and Supported by FCDO, today convened the Provincial Forum on Social Inclusion in Karachi, themed “From Exclusion to Entitlement: Closing the Justice Gap for Sindh’s Most Marginalised Communities.” The Forum brought together key stakeholders from government departments, statutory bodies, the judiciary, civil society and community representatives to confront a persistent gap: Sindh’s laws for transgender persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are among Pakistan’s most progressive, but the justice they promise has not reached those they were written for.
Aawaz II district partners — IRC, Sami Foundation, HWA and AWARE — presented consolidated findings from village and district forum surveys across Malir, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot. Five interconnected failures emerged: accessibility challenges in disability-certification processes; humiliation and physical barriers in accessing services; no dedicated shelters for transgender persons and largely invisible caregiver abuse against PWDs; not trained focal officer in any police station across the five districts; and zero representation of transgender persons or PWDs on disaster committees, welfare boards or planning forums.
Ms. Abia Akram, Director Projects at the Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP), presented a national analysis of access-to-justice barriers for PWDs. Community advocates for transgender persons, Ms. Zehrish Khan and Ms. Aradhiya Khan outlined reform priorities for coordination with duty bearers, inclusive public services, and dignity in service delivery.
Presenting DEPD’s institutional priorities, Dr. Ratana highlighted the rollout of the Shanakht (Identity) Certificate and confirmed that DEPD is operational in 30 districts of Sindh, with approximately 100,000 PWDs registered. She underscored ongoing work to enforce the 5% PWD employment quota and called for a shift in discourse to a rights-based approach. “Persons with disabilities are not beggars,” she said. “It is their right to access what the law already entitles them to.”
Mr. Abdul Hakeem, Assistant Director, Social Welfare Department (SWD), briefed the Forum on Karachi’s Community Development Centre (CDC) for Transgender Persons— flagging CNIC barriers to enrolment and outlining SWD’s plans for employer sensitisation, community awareness, and stronger protection against violence and discrimination.
Facilitating the Strategic Dialogue, Ms. Maliha Zia (LAS) anchored the day’s asks: trans-inclusive NADRA SOPs and mobile camps; enforcement of the 5% PWD and 2% transgender quotas; trained focal officers in every police station; gazetting caregiver abuse as a reportable category; inclusive shelters; and reserved seats for transgender persons and PWDs on DDMA plans and welfare boards. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to inclusion, time-bound departmental actions, to be followed up through Aawaz II’s provincial engagement channels and submitted to the Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee and its Technical Working Groups.