LAHORE: The government authorities will count transgender people in its national census for the first time when it surveys its population in March this year following a top court ruling.
The Lahore High Court on Monday issued the order to the government, National Database and Registration Authority, and the interior ministry with a government official assuring the court that the transgender community will be part of the 2017 census.
This stemmed from a petition filed by transgender Waqar Ali last November that argued Pakistan’s transgender community had been marginalized and their fundamental rights should be recognized by including them in the sixth national census.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed the order, issuing directives to enforce the transgender community’s basic rights.
The move was welcomed by Pakistan’s transgender community.
“We are glad that we will be counted as will be other people,” transgender rights worker Almas Bobby said.
“Hope we get equal citizenship and equal status.”
There are no official figures on the number of transgender people living in Pakistan but advocacy group Trans Action estimates there are at least 500,000 in the country with a population of 190 million.
In 2012, Supreme Court declared equal rights for transgender citizens, including the right to inherit property and assets, preceded a year earlier by the right to vote.
Pakistan, estimated to be the sixth largest country by population, will conduct its national census in March following a gap of nearly 19 years.
The last census was carried out in 1998 when the population was calculated at 132 million people.
