Download Last month on Asia Calling we heard how Eunuchs in Pakistan have finally been recognized as legal citizens of the country.
They now can get national identity cards that give them access to state health care and other benefits.
And they are also for the first time been given the opportunity to work for the government.
As Naeem Sahoutara reports they are doing a very usually job.
Sana, a 22 year old transgender, knocks at the door of luxurious villa in a wealthy suburb of Karachi.
She is wearing a colourful Shalwar Kameez and heavy make-up.
And she is here to collect unpaid government taxes.
"Sometimes the defaulters open the doors and talk with us as they know we have been employed as tax collectors. But many misbehave and shut the door on us. When that happens we have to employ our traditional methods like chanting or clapping.”
A lady peers through a half-opened door.
She thinks Sana is a beggar and refuses to come out.
It’s not till Sana shows her identity card and warns that her water will be disconnected that the women promises her husband will pay the debts.
Eunuchs are usually gay men, who for many people in Pakistan are associated with prostitution.
People are often so embarrassed to have eunuchs come to their homes that they pay their debts immediately!
Aziz Soharwardi, the Vice President of the government Clifton Cantonment Board (CCB) says they’re doing a great job.
"In last eight months they’ve recovered eight million. So, it’s quite beneficial for the Cantonment Board irrespective of how they recover it."
Last week transsexuals celebrated a historic victory.
National Identity cards now have a third sex for eunuchs or Khawaja Sara as they are know in Pakistan and the high court ruled that the government must provided them with employment.
The decision sparked celebrations like this one across the country.
But most eunuchs’ lives have not changed.
It’s about 2 am in morning in centre Karachi.
29-year-old eunuch, Neelum, is wandering the streets.
She used to dance in circuses but now sells her body to survive.
"I will only feel happy when I am able to leave this profession and be given an opportunity to do another job. But that’s unlikely to happen. I don’t it will ever happen.”
The situation is worse for eunuchs in the terrorism hit region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Taliban militants have stopped them from performing traditional dances.
Local transgender rights activist Farzana wants to see Eunuchs employed as tax collectors in this area too.
"We need jobs; we’re ready to work for the government to recover debts. If government provides us job, the defaulters will not resist as they will know we're officially appointed. We can’t dance anymore and are now living a miserable life. The government must help us."
Back in Karachi, Cantonment official Aziz has nothing up praise for his new debt collectors.
"I’m sure! If they are given respectable place in the society, they can contribute in many ways, as they had been doing over here."
Gender rights activist Sarah Gill’s dream is to see eunuchs not just as tax collectors but in positions of real power.
"I hope after ten years, I’ll be seeing transgender sitting in the Parliament or ministries. I want my sisters to be there, because we’re educated and we have abilities to do this."
And his report was produced in partnership with Shahab ur Rehman in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.
