Transgender Persons Issued Driving Licenses, Traffic Police To Teach Them Driving In Peshawar

Transgender Community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has once again taken a lead in securing their legal rights and after getting transgender passports, health Cards, inclusion in national census and Prime Minister Skill Development Program now they have succeeded in securing driving licenses with their desired gender identity.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Mar, 2018 ) :Transgender Community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has once again taken a lead in securing their legal rights and after getting transgender passports, health Cards, inclusion in national census and Prime Minister Skill Development Program now they have succeeded in securing driving licenses with their desired gender identity.

Ceremony was organized here Monday at Traffic Police Headquarters 30 transgender persons were were issued driving licenses and based on their self assumed gender identity and existing NIC documents.

No transgender person was forced or asked to change their legal documents to receive the national driving license. The traffic police will be organizing a separate class for those transgender persons who want to learn the driving skill at Peshawar Cantt Police driving learning school.

Farzana Jan, a fearless transgender rights activist who leads a transgender community alliance (TransAction) In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also has the honor to receive Pakistan's first NIC, first passport with X identity, and who is the first transgender scout has once again become the first Pakistani transgender persons who received first Pakistani driving lenience showing her identity as transgender person.

Speaking on the occasion, Farzana says "Today is another victory for trans people and human rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Its not the end of our battle it's just the beginning". SSP Traffic Peshawar Yasir Afridi Says "Transgender Persons are equal citizens of Pakistan, We respect their identity and expression.

"We are glad that Khyber Pakhttunkhwa is again leading in opening its heart to the transgender person and we are the first province to make it possible for the transgender community who have suffered for long, he added.

SSP Trrafic appreciated the efforts of Blue Veins, TransAction, PJYO for streamlining the needs of this community".

Qamar Naseem Program Coordinator Blue Veins and member of the Chief Minister Special Committee on Rights of the Transgender Persons (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Says "The For trans people, "ID anxiety" is almost daily occurrence.

This is a landmark achievement and we are very grateful to SSP traffic Peshawar Yasir Afridi and his team for making this happen". He more over said that "Allowing people to update their gender markers and giving them legal identities with their desired gender can reduce the risk of harassment and discrimination they experience when their physical appearance does not match the gender on their ID".

Taimur Kamal Coordinator of the Peace Justice and Youth Organization Says For many transgender people in Europe changing their name or gender on a driving license requires an invasive and offensive medical procedures.

The world has to learn from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan who is much progressive on the "right to respect for private life." Arzu Khan General Secretary of the TransAction Alliance says " We are grateful to our allies and supporters in Govt, Civil Society, Media and all other who have it possible for the transgender community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Having a driving license was dream for me and I am glad this dream becomes true.

It is important to mention that the KP transgender protection policy is in their final stage of finalization which also emphasizes that the provincial government shall ensure that public transportation is transgender friendly and the state laws clearly prohibit such treatment which makes public transportation inaccessible to Transgender and other vulnerable communities.

The traffic police officials also say that they will take action against those public transport vehicles who charge extra, harass or deny services to transgender community or any other vulnerable population.