ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (APP): Continuing its efforts to support the flood stricken families in this difficult time, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has so far disbursed over Rs. 46 billion among 1,861,836 flood affected families.

According to the statistics issued by the BISP here Monday, an amount of Rs. 25,000 per family is being distributed through BISP to the flood affected families of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan.

So far a total of Rs.46,545,900,000 has been disbursed among 1,861,836 flood affected families under Flood Relief Cash Assistance across the country.

In Balochistan, 150,568 flood affected families have received Rs. 3,764,200,000. 1,321,300 affected families of Sindh have received Rs.33,032,500,000. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 183,628 families have received Rs. 4,590,700,000 whereas 206,033 families of Punjab have received Rs.5,150,825,000. In Gilgit Baltistan 307 flood affected families have also received Rs. 7,675,000.

Today, a total of 142,171 flood affected families have received financial assistance from different campsites established in flood hit areas. A control room has been established at BISP headquarters to ensure smooth payments.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (APP): A private members’ bill was moved in Senate on Monday seeking amendments in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2018 aimed to reduce suffering, improve standard of living and bring reform in the lives of the deprived segment of society.

The Bill moved by Senator Fawzai Arshad, was seeking amendments in definitions of “gender expression” and “gender identity”. The Bill aimed to redefine the transgender person and also seeking amendments in various sub-sections of Section 3 and focus to omit the expressions related to self-perceived gender identity of transgender persons. It sought to omit the expression “as per his or her self-perceived gender identity, as such,” from sub-section 1 of Section 3 and expressions“ as per his or her self-perceived gender identity” from sub-sections 2 and 3 of Section 3.

It also proposed to delete sub-section 4 from Section 3 which says “a transgender person already issued CNIC by NADRA shall be allowed to change the name and gender according to his or her self perceived identity on the CNIC, CRC, Driving License and passport in accordance with the provisions of the NADRA Ordinance, 2000”.

The Bill also sought amendments in Sections 7 and 8 related to the share of inheritance and right to education.

The statement of objects and reasons of the proposed Bill says that this legislative proposal has been brought to fill the gaps and make this Act more effective and worthwhile for reducing suffering, improving standard of living and reforming the most deprived segment of the society.

It states that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Right) Act, 2018 has been enacted to protect and safeguard the rights of transgender community in Pakistan. Its objective is to ensure provision of rights to own, inherit property, acquire education and employment, vote for candidates of their own choice, hold public office, assemble peacefully for any lawful purpose, access to public places and ensure fulfillment of fundamental rights for the transgender people, residing in Pakistan.

However, various lacunas and loopholes have been observed in this Act, that needs to be addressed and transferred its benefits to the said group of people on priority basis.

Moreover, the said Act does not conform to the principles and rules, developed under Sharia for dealing with the issues, related to transgender persons in a Muslim society.

Hence, these amendments are brought to fill the gaps and make this Act more effective and worthwhile for reducing suffering, improving standard of living and reforming the most deprived segment of the society.