As the first transgender news anchor in Pakistan, Marvia Malik is proud to be at the forefront of changing attitudes in her country but she says there is a long way to go. The news of her first appearance on local channel Kohenoor TV on Saturday went viral on social media and was just days after she became the first transgender model on the catwalk at the annual Pakistan Fashion Design Council fashion show. For although transgender people technically enjoy better rights in Pakistan than in many other nations, in practice they are marginalized and face discrimination in education and jobs. However campaigners said there were signs of progress in the conservative South Asian nation where homosexuality is a crime. CharityTrans Action Pakistan estimates there are at least half a million transgender people in the country.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 26, 2018 16:41 UTC