In a first, the Lahore Traffic Police have hired two transgender persons, Muskan and Khusboo, as Victim Support Officers to help deal with organised begging rings in the city.

This move is a major step towards social inclusion while dealing with the causes of street begging.

As part of a larger crackdown, Muskan and Khusboo will accompany traffic police teams to spot female beggars and take appropriate action against them. They will also spread awareness about anti-begging drives and persuade members of the transgender community to pursue legal and respectable sources of livelihood.

In order to solidify this move, the Lady Traffic Warden Education Wing has also been engaged. The wing will implement selective raids against lady beggars to ensure that such individuals caught up in these drives are transferred to police stations for legal action or sent to welfare centers like Edhi Homes for care and treatment.

Talking about the initiative, Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) emphasized the importance of a balanced approach. He said, "Our aim is not only to eliminate begging but to impart sustainable solutions to the affected." He also pointed out that the initiative aims to disrupt the cycle of poverty and exploitation while ensuring the well-being of marginalized segments of society.

Human rights activists have welcomed this step as a progressive measure towards the integration of transgender people into the police force. Through the involvement of transgender officers in such programs, the police hope to build trust and cooperation among the community while providing genuine employment opportunities. This program is an indication of a progressive change in Lahore's response to addressing organised begging.