KARACHI: Around 40 transgender persons have been selected as the members of Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA), a national scouting organization and one of the largest volunteer forces in the country, during a ceremony held in a local hotel.
PBSA was founded in 1947 and aims to train young boys in first aid, civil defense, camping and hiking, community development projects and emergency response and holds regular camps, hikes, speech contests and other activities such as tree planting camps and peace camps.
It became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in April 1948.Today, there are more than 700,000 members in the PBSA.
The young transgenders, wearing scout scarfs, took the oath at the welcome ceremony. They were briefed about the responsibilities as PBSA members.
“Such opportunities are very rare. This will give us help us to show the community that we are normal people doing normal things and this may make them comfortable hiring us for actual jobs,” said Bindiya Rana, who is the president of the Gender Interactive Alliance in Sindh “We feel we are finally being recognized as equal citizens of Pakistan and are glad to see that the level of our acceptance is increasing,” said TransAction Alliance president Farzana Jan, addressing a ceremony in Karachi. She said that the transgender community is extremely happy to be welcomed into the scouting community. Farzana is also the only transgender person who has been selected as a scout from Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa province.
Chairman of the Petarian Human Rights Organization, Ihsan Khosa said the ceremony as a defining moment for the transgender community.
“PBSA is open to all, without distinction of origin, race or creed,” said Atif Amin Hussain, Commissioner IPC Sindh Boys Scouts.
The Sindh and Pakistan boys scout association is not a gender-specific organization, said Akhter Mir, secretary of the Sindh Boys Scout Association, told the Arab News.
“Our association is primarily aimed at youth development and motivation. Transgender people are also youth, and we don’t discriminate on the basis of gender,” he said.
Transgender persons chosen as scouts
Transgender persons chosen as scouts
Pakistan bulk cargo terminal signs deal to ship copper-gold output from Reko Diq
- Pakistan International Bulk Terminal says the deal positions it as the primary logistics gateway for Reko Diq’s mineral output
- A top Barrick Mining official says the agreement marks a ‘step forward,’ with exports from the project expected to begin in 2028
ISLAMABAD: A bulk cargo terminal operating at Pakistan’s Port Qasim has signed an agreement to handle and export copper-gold commodities from Reko Diq, including minerals, metals and other natural earth resources, in a move expected to support multibillion-dollar mineral exports from the country, the company said on Monday.
The terminal operator, Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited (PIBT), said the agreement positions it as the primary export gateway for Reko Diq’s mineral output and strengthens Pakistan’s ambitions to expand its footprint in global commodity markets.
The deal covers logistics, storage and exports for output from the Reko Diq copper-gold project in southwestern Balochistan province, one of the world’s largest undeveloped mineral deposits, with shipments expected to begin from 2028.
“This agreement is a historic milestone for PIBT and Pakistan, enabling exports from one of the world’s most significant mining projects and serving as a cornerstone for national economic growth,” Sharique Azim Siddiqui, CEO of PIBT, said in a statement.
He expressed appreciation to the government, the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Port Qasim Authority for their “pivotal role.”
Barrick Mining Corporation, which is developing Reko Diq, also welcomed the agreement.
“We’re delighted to have signed this important agreement with PIBT which marks another step forward in ensuring that Reko Diq delivers lasting value to all our stakeholders but particularly the people of Balochistan and Pakistan,” Mark Hill, the company’s top official, said.
PIBT is a fully mechanized multipurpose bulk terminal located at Port Qasim and was developed with a $305 million investment in partnership with the International Finance Corporation.
The terminal currently has an annual handling capacity of 12 million tons of imports and 4 million tons of exports, with further investment planned to upgrade its export systems, the company said.
