ISLAMABAD: Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari inaugurated the first Transgender Protection Centre in the country in H-9/4 on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Dr Mazari said similar centres would be established in other cities to ensure the rights of the transgender community, emphasising that members of the community should be provided the same employment and health facihties as other citizens of the country.

She said the PTI government had included the transgender community in the Ehsaas Programme and health card initiatives with the aim to provide them opportunities for development.

The Transgender Protection Centre would provide legal aid, basic health f acilities, psychological counselling and temporary shelter as well.

The participants at the event were informed that the Ministry of Human Rights had taken various initiatives for effective implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, with the aim to ensure protection, rehabilitation and fundamental rights of the transgender persons as guaranteed by the Constitution to all citizens.

They learnt that under Section-6(a) of the Transgender Protection Act, the ministry had set up a Transgender Protection Centre at a cost of Rs35.8 million, which would protect and rehabilitate transgender persons in need.

The event was also attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand, Human Rights Secretary Inaamullah, officials of the ministry and transgender activists and representatives of their community and mediapersons.