DR SADYA SALAR

Sadya is the first openly practicing transgender doctor from Pakistan, renowned for her dedication to healthcare and advocacy. She completed her MBBS from King Edward Medical University in Lahore and has since worked passionately to support marginalised communities. As a healthcare provider with the Khawaja Sira Society, Sadya focuses on improving health services for transgender individuals while promoting inclusion and tolerance.

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Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

I am Dr. Sadya Salar, the first openly practicing transgender doctor from Lahore, Pakistan with over a decade of experience working in social impact initiatives focusing on Inclusive Education, Mental Health, SRHR, health equity, peace-building, digital literacy and social justice. I grew up in a society that often views gender diversity through a lens of stigma. My early years were marked by internal conflict and external isolation, and I was eventually estranged from my family due to my gender identity. Despite this emotional and financial upheaval, I pursued my medical education, began working in grassroots health and advocacy, and today I serve as the Advocacy & Partnerships Manager and STI Specialist at Khawaja Sira Society, Pakistan’s leading trans-led organisation. My journey has been one of reclaiming dignity, carving spaces for others and ensuring no one feels alone for being themselves. 

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

In Pakistan, the deeply rooted culture of exclusion presents enormous challenges, especially for transgender persons, women, and people living with disabilities. Acceptance and equal opportunity are far from reality; there is intentional marginalisation of already vulnerable groups. Additionally, we face a critical lack of real-time, disaggregated data that can inform policy or drive meaningful advocacy. This gap not only invisibilises the needs of our communities but also weakens the accountability mechanisms for social programmes.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

Being disowned by my family for embracing my true identity was one of the most painful experiences of my life. Financial instability, emotional isolation and social stigma followed. Yet I chose to survive and then thrive, I sought out safe communities, educated myself, and began working with organisations like Khawaja Sira Society, where I found purpose. I handled each hurdle by anchoring myself in advocacy, learning, and community-building, knowing that the fight for dignity begins within.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

A mentor serves as both a mirror and a compass; reflecting our potential while guiding us through uncertainty. For someone like me, who grew up without familial support, mentors have provided not only professional direction but also emotional grounding. They open doors, offer critical feedback, and, most importantly, help us dream beyond survival. Mentorship has transformed my life, and I now strive to do the same for others.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

Life has taught me that every decision we make carries consequences, some empowering, others painful. But the key lies in embracing those consequences as part of a conscious, chosen journey. For me, living authentically as a transwoman came with many sacrifices, but I would choose it again. It is in owning your truth, regardless of outcomes, that you begin to truly live.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

Khawaja Sira Society (KSS) is a pioneering trans-led organisation in Pakistan that is doing phenomenal work. Through their health services, digital inclusion programmes, legal aid and community support groups, they uplift some of the most marginalised voices. As both a staff member and beneficiary, I’ve seen this.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

Women in Pakistan, especially women with intersectional identities like transwomen, rural women, sex workers, PLHIV women, religious minority women, and women with disabilities, face barriers in education, employment, safety and political participation. Patriarchal norms suppress their autonomy, and gender-based violence is widespread. However, change is underway: movements for digital and financial inclusion, gender quotas in policymaking, and grassroots-led campaigns on reproductive rights and GBV prevention are gaining momentum. Programmes like WE-Forum and Amplify Feminism are creating space for more inclusive leadership.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by.  

“Existence is resistance.” Living your truth in a world that constantly tries to erase you is not just brave, it’s revolutionary.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

I would launch a national network of safe, inclusive, community-led learning and economic empowerment centres for trans and underserved women. These centres, both physical and digital— would offer vocational training, digital literacy, peer support, legal aid and mental health services. The goal would be long-term autonomy through skill-building, healing and employment. A scalable model like this could reshape the future for thousands of women pushed to society’s margins.

Q: How is technology utilised for social impact in your country? For example are there mobile apps that support gender equality, inclusion, understanding of cultures?

Technology is gradually becoming a bridge for inclusion in Pakistan. Social media has empowered many young activists to build communities and raise awareness on gender issues. Initiatives like the TransformU Digital Inclusion Programme, where I worked as coordinator, train transgender individuals in freelancing and entrepreneurship. Several helpline and telehealth apps now provide mental health support and legal aid to survivors of gender-based violence.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?  

Every marginalised person carries not only stories of struggle but immense power for change. My life’s work is to amplify that power through advocacy, mentorship and inclusive systems. I hope to continue building bridges between policy and the people, so no one has to choose between authenticity and acceptance again.