Sindh Government to Provide Higher Education Scholarships via SEEF

What Was Announced

• The Sindh government has decided to provide higher education scholarships to transgender students through the Sindh Education Endowment Fund (SEEF) [1, 2, 3].
• Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah announced that special approval will be sought from the SEEF board to facilitate these scholarships [2, 3].
• A draft transgender education policy has been prepared and will be presented to the relevant cabinet committee for approval [2].
• The minister agreed to finalize the policy after reviewing it through direct consultations with community representatives to address their concerns and objections [2].
• The existing provincial recruitment policy includes a job quota for transgender individuals [1, 2].
• Members of the community can serve as teachers if they obtain the necessary educational and professional qualifications [1, 2].

During a meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2026, a transgender community delegation met with Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah [2, 3]. The delegation included Shahzadi Rai, who is the Sindh focal person for the transgender community and a KMC City Councillor; Zehrish Khanzadi, the operations, human resources, and policy manager at the Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA); and Kami Choudhry, the executive director of Surbang Society [1, 2].

The delegation informed the minister about challenges such as securing admissions to educational institutions and the difficulties students face in continuing their studies [2, 3]. They stated that many community members seek to overcome economic and social barriers through education to secure professional employment [2].

Minister Shah stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party has implemented policy and legislative initiatives in Sindh regarding these issues [2]. He emphasized that the government must translate its commitment into practical measures and that the policy approval process will involve relevant stakeholders [2]. He also noted that transgender individuals should have the same fundamental rights as other citizens to pursue academic and professional careers [1, 2].