ISSUES OF THIRD GENDER IN PAKISTAN

Technical Report Writing

4th Semester (Evening)

Submitted by:
Mehr Ali Hyder
(11272)

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES,
ISLAMABAD
 ABSTRACT

Transgenders are facing numerous difficulties in Pakistan. The basic purpose of this study is to conduct
a survey to highlight the general issues and problems, the transgenders have been facing. In this study,
data will be collected from transgenders belonging from twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. As a
result of this study, a broad sense of awareness will be developed among the people, particularly
relating to the various problems and issues being faced by transgenders, and hopefully they will then be
treated equally human.
Contents
1. CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................5
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................6
MAJOR ISSUES OF THIRD GENDER IN PAKISTAN...................................................................7
CENSUS 2017...................................................................................................................................8
2. CHAPTER:2.............................................................................................................................9
LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................................................10
3. CHAPTER:3...........................................................................................................................12
QUESTIONNAIRE ANALYSIS.....................................................................................................13
4. CHAPTER 4:..........................................................................................................................21
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION................................................................................22

References
 LIST OF FIGURES

Rural and urban population...................................................................................................................8

Census 2017..........................................................................................................................................8
 CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Every single human being is permitted to enjoy equally human rights without distinction as to race,
color, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion. But in South Asia, people have the
mentality that a human can either be male or female and there cannot be a human of any other gender.
However, reality is pretty different, as there is another gender which is present in the world and is
known as third gender/transgender. Third gender _ people who contain both sex organs i.e. of male and
female in the same body. Still transgender in Pakistan link up to (Murat, Hijra, Khawaja Sara and
Khusra) Pakistani given by different names to third gender. People who belongs to third gender are
facing numerous difficulties in Pakistan.

Not many people know that transgender/Khawaja Sara was actually a term developed by the Mughals
to describe the eunuchs designated to take care of the ladies of the harem because they posed no threat
to the women and were rather used to protect them. it was their golden era.

In our society, people who belong to third gender are first identified by the families. The community
often mistakes them as pre-homosexuals and most Pakistani families become aggressive towards them.
E.g., strong warnings are given to them to change their attitude and most of them are rejected by their
communities and loved ones[ CITATION akh16 \l 1033 ].

Most of transgenders are illiterate. people believe that they cannot do any work except for sing and
dance. transgenders are facing number of problems in Pakistan, they are not socially accepted,
However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (2007) in Article 23 says that every individual
has a right to work, regardless of their sexual orientation[ CITATION Uni07 \l 1033 ].

Due to literally no job opportunities, most members of the transgender community are forced to make
their living by prostitution, also government is not supporting them in good manner, even people are
not happy to work with them in offices.

In Pakistan, transgenders live mostly within their own colonies and within their own cultural context.
Usually, they live in groups and supervised by a guru (teacher). The guru teaches them skills of singing
and dancing to enable them to earn their own living.
MAJOR ISSUES OF THIRD GENDER IN PAKISTAN
Because of their sexual orientation they are not socially accepted and their family mostly prefers to
hand them over to the bisexual group. Moreover, they were mostly excluded by their own parents, who
consider them as a cause of shame for the whole family.

Every person is permitted to enjoy equally human rights without difference, but people who belong to
third gender enjoys the least amount of respect or rights in Pakistan. Most of the people did not
consider them as a part of society, they don't like to eat with them, drink with them or shake with their
hands. They do not have their fundamental rights. That is why they are not treated like the other citizen
of Pakistan.

Government not supporting them in a good manner. Government has failed to provide legal rights to
the transgender community due to which they have not been given the respect they deserve as human
beings and as members of society. Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a number of revolutionary
orders for the government and police to afford third gender equal to other citizens, but no such
information could be found so far on the progress of this work.

They are far away from education, reason behind this is people believe that they cannot do anything
expect for begging, dancing and singing. Most of transgender never get a chance to get education in the
regular schools due to unfair treatment and poor attitude of fellow citizens. As a result, they remain
uneducated.

They are bound to establish their own colonies outside of regular community. Because they found
number of difficulties living along with regular community. People make fun of them and also tease
them.
CENSUS 2017
According to Pakistan census 2017, there are around 10,418 transgenders in the country. According to
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics,73% of transgenders are found in urban areas while 23% were found to be
in rural areas[ CITATION Cen17 \l 1033 ].

Rural and urban population

Census 2017
 CHAPTER 2:
LITERATURE REVIEW
LITERATURE REVIEW
This paper examines that how transgender survives in Pakistan. In our society people believe that
transgenders are not a part of society. Islam has given equal rights to everyone but still transgender
enjoys the least amount respect in Pakistan. This paper also discusses the types of transgender. In this
paper, it was found that life style of transgender in Pakistan is very much different as compared to the
developed countries. In this research paper researcher shows that transgender in Pakistan facing
numerous issues like education, sexual abuse, treatment and After their birth their families become
hyper to kill them or to throw them from their circle because they feel ashamed have a part of family.
According to this research paper a major task was given by supreme court of Pakistan to government to
conduct a survey about third gender/transgender population and to give equal right to them but nothing
was happened[CITATION sad17 \l 1033 ].
 CHAPTER 3:
DATA ANALYSIS
QUESTIONNAIRE ANALYSIS
This questionnaire contains 11 questions, here we are going to discuss all the questions in detail. This
questionnaire filled by 9 transgenders.

1. Do you feel safe in society?

Yes:100%
No:0%
Not sure:0%

Do you feel safe in society?

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Yes N0 Not s ure
Yes Not s ure

At the end it is found that 100% transgenders think that they are not safe in society.

2. Do think government you is supporting your community in a good manner?

Yes:100%

No:0%
Do you think government is supporting your community in a good manner?
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Yes N0 Not sure
Yes Not sure

According to this question it is found that 100% transgenders think that the government is not
supporting them in a good manner.

3. Do you feel safe when you walk on streets after dark?

Yes:22.2%
No:66.6%
Not sure:22.2%
Do you feel safe when you walk on streets after dark?
7

0
Yes N0 Not sure
Yes No Not sure

According to this question it is found that 66.6% transgenders think they not feel safe on streets after
dark, 33.3 are not sure about this question, and one of them.22% transgenders think they feel safe on
streets.
4. Do you think you are being treated like other citizens of Pakistan?
Yes:0%
No:66.6%
Not sure:0%
Occasionally:33.3%
Do you think you are being treated like other citizens of Pakistan?
70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Yes N0 Not sure occasionally

According to this question 66.6% transgenders think that they are not treated like other citizens of
Pakistan, and 33.3% transgenders think they are treated like other citizens on some occasions
5. Are you satisfied with your life?
Yes:33.3%
No:0%
Occasionally:66.6%
Not sure:0%

Are you sati sfied with your life?

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Yes N0 Not s ure occas i ona l l y

At the result of this question 33.3% transgenders think that they are satisfied with their life, and 66.6%
think they are satisfied with their life occasionally.

6. Do you have a proper way of earning?

Yes:0%
No:100%
 Do you have a proper way of earning?
120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Yes N0

7. Are you in contact with your family?

Yes:33.3%

Are you in contact with your family ?

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Yes N0
No: 66.6%
At the result of this question it is found that 66.6% transgenders are not in contact with families, and
33.3% transgenders are in contact with their families.

8. Recently Allama Iqbal open university offered free education to for transgenders, what do
you think of this decision?
Good:55.5%
Very Good:44.4%
I don’t care:0%

Recently Allama Iqbal open university offered free education for transgenders, what do you think of this decision
60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Good Very Good I don’t care

Getting education is also a problem for third gender. Recently Allama Iqbal open university offered free
education for transgenders, as the result of this question 100% transgenders appreciate this decision.
9. Do you think your life style is different in comparison with transgenders of developed
countries?
Agree:33.3
Disagree:44.4%
Not sure:22.2%

Do you think your life style is different in comparison with transgenders of developed countries?
90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Agree Disagree Not sure

33.3% Transgenders believe that their life style is different as compared to transgenders of developed
counties. 44.4% are not agree with this statement, and 22..2 % are not sure about this question.
 10. Do you think life is difficult as a transgender?
Agree:22.2%
Disagree:44.4%
Not sure:33.3%

Do you think life is diffi cult as a transgender?

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Agree Di s a gree Not s ure
22.2% transgenders think that being a transgender life is difficult.44.4% are not agree with this
question.33.3% are not sure about this.
11. Being a transgender do you feel embarrassing?
Yes:0%
No:66.6%
Occasionally:33.3%
 Being a transgender do you feel embarrassing?
70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Yes No occas i ona l l y

At the result of this question 66.6% transgenders think that being a transgender they not feel
embarrassing.33.3% think that they feel embarrassing on some occasions.
 CHAPTER 4:
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
People who belong to third gender are facing many problems in Pakistan, lack of education, social
rights and unfair behavior by other people has made their lifestyle tough. They don’t feel confident
themselves during conversation with others and often face disappointment in term of ignorance and
tolerance, So the basic purpose of this study is to conduct a survey to highlight their issues and
problems. As a result of this study, a broad sense of awareness is developed among the people,
particularly relating to the various problems and issues being faced by transgenders, and hopefully they
will then be treated equally human

If people change their mentality about transgender then hopefully they will get equal rights like other
citizens. But in Pakistan there is a wrong myth that a human can be either male or female, they don’t
want to accept third gender, so wrong thought is also a major issue. There should be proper rules for
them. They should be offered free education. There should be free treatment for them in hospitals. They
should be -offered social services by the government. The government needs to ensure that transgender
laws are properly implemented in Pakistan. Not only the government, non-government bodies also
need to show interest in improving the quality of life in the transgender community.
References

[1] m. akhter, "Transgender in Pakistan, By Mahwish Akhtar," 29 feburary 2016. [Online]. Available:
https://www.newspakistan.tv/transgender-in-pakistan-by-mahwish-akhtar-jinnah-university-for-women/.
[Accessed 1 december 2017].

[2] "Universal Declaration of Human Rights," United Nations, 2007.

[3] "Census shows over 10,000 transgender population in Pakistan," 26 August 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1354039. [Accessed 1 December 2017].

[4] k. saddique, s. mirbehar, h. batool and i. ahmad, "Transgender Issues in Pakistani Community," European
Academic Research, vol. iv, no. 10, pp. 9048-9056, 2017.