The Pakistani government announced that transgenders are now eligible for free health care.
Homosexuality, meanwhile, is banned and punishable under the law with prison or death.
Pakistan’s government opened a free health care program for transgenders earlier this month as the country’s prime minister said that they were “taking responsibility” for trans people.
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that a government insurance program originally created for poor people would be extended to transgender healthcare.
The Sehat Insaf Card program covers health care costs of up to 720,000 Pakistani rupees (about $4700) a year for people who make less than $2 a day.
Now transgenders will not be asked to prove they have a low income to access the cards.
“Today, the cards we have given out is the first acknowledgment and a great step towards the transgender community, which had been long ignored,” said Khan when the program launched.
“Unfortunately, with a heavy heart, I have to say that people don’t have empathy for our transgender community who live such a hard life.”
“It is part of a grand program to provide health insurance not just to the poor but the vulnerable sections of society, including… transgender [people],” a special assistant to the prime minister told Reuters.
“Any body identified as a transgender is eligible for this health insurance program.”
Homosexuality, meanwhile, is banned in Pakistan and is punishable under the law with prison or death.
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