ISLAMABAD: A gap as wide was 81 per cent has been observed in Pakistan’s actual transgender population and their registration as ‘third sex’ with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), according to the report by a local newspaper.
According to the Census 2017 results, the transgender population in the country stands at 10,418. However, according to the newspaper report, only 1,882 transgender persons are registered with NADRA, out of which 1,177 are registered as eunuch male, 569 as eunuch female and 136 as neutral or unisex.
Exact particulars on identity cards could make special privileges– categorised under gender specification– accessible to an individual, which would not be the case if there is no specific mention of a person’s sex on the document.
The concept of officially issuing identity cards mentioning the third gender was introduced back in 2011 on a Supreme Court order, which eventually enabled transgender persons to register themselves with NADRA without any prerequisite documentation.
