Inclusive Planning: An Assessment of Safety and Location Patterns of Transgender in Major Cities of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

To make a community, socially, economically and environmentally sustainable, the major part of urban planning is to plan for a community with different strategies and policies. Therefore, the transgender community is one of the most marginalized communities to be addressed at national and global level. The world is talking about their rights but in Pakistan they are still ignored to be deliberated. There is no single academic research found on transgender under urban planning department, therefore this research addresses this emerging social issue, first time with particularly urban perspective. This research has been categorized into three main parts. One is about their socio economic characteristics in Punjab, Pakistan. Secondly to consider transgender urban safety and the last to discuss their location patterns in cities. To conduct this research, the data has been collected from five major cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sargodha and Rawalpindi. The reason behind selection of these specific cities is that the ratio of transgender population is higher as compared to other cities. Moreover, there is no doubt that the transgender are illiterate and poor class of Pakistan, having a lot of reasons behind this phenomenon. One of major phenomenon is the negative behavior of people against them at all level. By profession they are famous for dancing and prostitution, therefore they are far away from the normal society. In fact, they are compelled to do this as they have no education and sources of income so they can live a life of dignity. Hence, proper planning, standard operating rules (SOPs) and policies should be developed and enforced to educate as well as finance them, so that then can also be a strong part of the society. Similarly, while having no identification in respect of right of inheritance, no family protection and no self-respect they are more targeted people in harassment and violence cases, specifically in urban areas. In result they feel more discriminated and unsafe behavior on gender based issues and have no respectable status in the society. Having no shelter and source of income, they have been seen everywhere in the city, including commercial, industrial, suburban and residential parts. They have no appropriate locations to live for. Therefore, through this research an effort has been made to address their social issues and it xiv is recommended that there should be proper law, rules and regulations and policies to accommodate them in respect of shelter and source of income , so that they can live a respectable life. Key Words: transgender, marginalization, urban locations, safety, map, household, facilities