Govt allocates 500 million rupees for Khawaja Sara community in Punjab budget

The Punjab government has allocated 500 million rupees for the Khawaja Sara (transgender) community in its proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-25.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, this fund will be used to provide special skills training to transgender individuals to enhance their employment opportunities.
As per the channel report, under the skill development program, training will be provided for job placement.
Last year, the caretaker government of Punjab allocated the same amount of Rs500 million for the benefit of the transgender community in the annual budget 2023-24.
The Planning and Development Board stated that such a substantial amount has never been earmarked for the transgender community in the development budget before, marking a significant milestone.
On February 23 of this year, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, who was the Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister at the time and is now the sitting Federal Interior Minister, inaugurated Tahafuz Dars Gah, the first school for transgender individuals, located in the Jallo area of Lahore.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Mohsin Naqvi said the project was completed in just 18 days, thanks to the incredible efforts of the UK Curriculum and Accreditation Board (UKCAB), offering housing, education and vocational training.
He said Tahhazfuz Dars Gah is a first-of-its-kind state-of-the-art centre in South Asia for quality education and vocational training of transgender children.
“Tahhazfuz Darsgah will fulfill the educational needs of transgender children. Accommodation will also be provided to children who are rejected by their families for being transgenders in the Tahhazfuz Darsgah" .
He said Tahhazfuz Darsgah is a secure roof for homeless transgender children.
Transgender children will be provided with the safest environment, love and opportunities to live a better life in the centre.