Islamabad:
Pakistan's national database has appointed three eunuchs as data entry operators, the first time in the country's history that trans-gender people have been given jobs by the government.
The eunuchs will be designated as officials of the 'National Database and Registration Authority' in the post of data entry operators, a senior official of the Interior Ministry was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune newspaper.
The eunuchs will work in NADRA's provincial headquarters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces. The official said the appointment was made on merit through proper screening following the announcement of the jobs in newspapers.
NADRA will provide proper training in database processing to the eunuchs. NADRA plans to initially employ seven eunuchs at the provincial level to help process the computerised national identity cards of trans-gender people, the official said.
NADRA has received good response from applicants in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Eunuchs did not show any interest in working with NADRA in Lahore, he said.
All candidates must have a diploma in computers and a medical certificate from a district medical superintendent confirming their gender. Appointment letters have been prepared and will be dispatched to the three eunuchs soon.
One of the candidates hired by NADRA is studying for an LLB degree and the two others a BA and a matriculation degree. Representatives of eunuchs' rights associations, including Almaas Bobby and Shazia Choudhary, have appreciated the governments steps to register and provide employment to eunuchs.
The Supreme Court recently directed the government to issue computerised national identity cards and job opportunities to trans-gender people. In southern Sindh province, authorities have employed some eunuchs to help recover dues of state-run utilities.