Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider on Monday launched the province’s first health card specifically for the transgender community during a ceremony held at the Governor’s House. A large number of transgender individuals attended the event, where the governor personally distributed the health cards.
Addressing the ceremony, Governor Haider said that the transgender community deserves equal access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. “We must ensure their inclusion at every level of governance,” he said, adding that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) “will stand with every community in the country and leave no one behind.”
He acknowledged the persistent struggles of the transgender community in gaining recognition and rights. The governor noted that initiatives such as the NADRA Health Desk, skill development programs, and education and job quotas represent major steps forward for the community.
“With this health card, members of the transgender community will be able to receive medical treatment worth up to Rs. 600,000 across Punjab,” he announced, pledging the PPP’s continued efforts to address the community’s challenges.
Governor Haider emphasized that dignity, respect, and access to healthcare are fundamental human rights. “This health card is not just a card—it’s a promise of equality, convenience, and respect,” he said. “For too long, transgender individuals were ignored in hospitals. That ends now.”
Calling the initiative a reflection of the PPP’s compassion and inclusivity, the governor said the Governor’s House would always remain open to the transgender community. “Under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, our party has always stood with the poor, the workers, and the marginalised,” he added.
Members of the transgender community expressed gratitude to the governor, saying that Sardar Saleem Haider was the first to invite them to the Governor’s House and launch a health card scheme dedicated to their welfare.