Police force welcomes transgender recruits in Pakistan province

The police force in Pakistan’s Sindh province has announced that they will now allow transgender people to serve as regular duty police officers.

The police chief said that it was time to offer more opportunities to transgender people, who are often relegated to “menial jobs” in Pakistan, according to NBC News.

Transgender activists in the region say the decision will be a significant step for the community.

Police chief said: ‘We should stand by them’

“We will make them part of Sindh police,” Syed Kaleem Imam, Inspector General of the Sindh police told Reuters today.

“They are good God-gifted people. Citizens like us. We should stand by them,” he added.

Transgender people in Pakistan were granted rights equal to other citizens in 2009 by the country’s Supreme Court.

Despite this, transgender people in Pakistan continue to face persecution and transphobia.

“They are good God-gifted people. Citizens like us. We should stand by them.” – Syed Kaleem Imam, Inspector General of the Sindh police

Last December, the country hosted its first ever transgender pride march in Lahore, Pakistan.