- Wafa Abbas, Royan among award recipients as Tahaffuz Darsgah offers shelter and education to transgender children
- Tahaffuz Darsgah ensures a bright future for transgender children. IG Punjab
LAHORE: Punjab Police on Thursday held the annual award ceremony of its pilot project, “Tahaffuz Darsgah,” for transgender children, recognising students who demonstrated outstanding academic performance and celebrating their educational achievements.
Awards were distributed among transgender students, including Wafa Abbas, Royan, and others, for their exceptional accomplishments in the field of education, a Punjab Police spokesperson said.
The ceremony was attended by In-Charge Tahaffuz Centre Liberty Asma Rehman, In-Charge Meesaq Centre Farhan Parvez, and Victim Support Officers Kashish Khan, Masooma Rana, and Anza Khanzadi.
Head of Teaching Staff Anam Zubair, Admin Officer Imran Bhatti, along with Sharjeel Mehmood, Sharjina Taimoor, Rubina Khan, and Syeda Nosheen Naqvi, were also present on the occasion.
Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar lauded the transgender students for their remarkable academic success, stating that their achievements reflected the safe, inclusive, and constructive environment provided at Punjab Police’s Tahaffuz Darsgah.
He said Tahaffuz Darsgah serves as a safe shelter for homeless transgender children, offering accommodation, meals, and quality education to orphaned and displaced transgender children.
The IG Punjab further said the initiative empowers transgender children by building confidence and paving the way for a brighter future. He added that effective measures were being taken to provide them with education, training, and other essential facilities. Punjab Police, in collaboration with the British organisation UK Curriculum and Accreditation Body, is providing educational services at Tahaffuz Darsgah.
The Punjab Police spokesperson said Tahaffuz Darsgah, operating under Punjab Police supervision, is the country’s first institution to provide quality education to transgender children, adding that students enrolled in the programme are equally intelligent and capable as any other children.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, a cake was cut to mark the arrival of the New Year.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr Usman Anwar issued directives to enhance security across Lahore and the entire province on the occasion of Friday prayers.
He ordered that security at mosques, imambargahs, shrines, markets, and other sensitive locations be ensured at all costs, and directed a significant increase in patrolling around mosques, imambargahs, commercial centres, and major thoroughfares.
The IG Punjab further instructed that search, sweep, and combing operations continue uninterrupted across Lahore and the rest of the province.
Emphasising that maintaining law and order and safeguarding citizens’ lives and property remained the top priority of Punjab Police, Dr Anwar directed all DPOs and senior police officers to remain in the field to personally monitor and assess security arrangements.
