Sonia Naz has become Pakistan’s first transgender person to start her own fashion designing business after getting a soft loan of Rs 1 million under the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES).

YES is part of Prime Minister Imran Khan's Kamyab Jawan Program and it helps foster inclusion of transgender people in society.

Committed to transforming the social mindset that transgender people are born only to dance or beg, Sonia said she wanted to change this way of thinking by setting an example, Daily Pakistan reported.

In a two-minute video clip, Sonia said she applied for a soft loan after Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Kamyab Jawan Program (KJP) for the youth.

The first entrepreneur from the transgender community benefitting from the youth loan scheme said she was feeling optimistic about her future after seeing a third column [transgender] on the application form for the KJP.

She appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for including the transgender community under such a 'wonderful' initiative.

On this occasion, Sonia spoke about the issues faced by transgender people at their homes and in society.

Commenting on the issue, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said Sonia Naz became the first transgender person who availed a soft loan under the KJP.

(SAM)