Same-gender sexual activities in Pakistan are illegal. In practice, despite being illegal, people taking part in homosexual activities are not always prosecuted by the government of Pakistan. However, as part of the Islamisation of Pakistan, the Hudood Ordinances were enacted, stipulating severe punishments for same-gender sexual acts such as whipping of up to 100 lashes and death by stoning. Neither same-gender marriages nor civil unions are permitted under current law. Like most South Asian nations, in Pakistan, there is the concept of the third gender where members are referred to by society as neither man or a woman. Changing gender became legal in 2010. Thus, discrimination and harassment of transgender people was also protected. In 2018, a school for the education and vocational training of trans* people was opened in Lahore. Even though the Pakistani government recognizes a third gender on ID cards, many people from the transgender community are hesitant to apply for it as they will not be allowed to enter the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia as a transgender person. Pakistan does not have civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. Only the Green Party of Pakistan has expressed some support for LGBTQIA+ rights.
LGBTQIA+ individuals do not have equal rights and face significant social difficulties and hostility including harassment, threat, violence, pedophilic actions by clerics in religious schools and marriage pressure from community members and their family. Even in large cities, gays and lesbians have to be highly discreet about their sexual orientation. Discrimination and disapproval of the LGBTQIA+ communities, along with the associated social stigma, mostly stem from religious beliefs and make it difficult for LGBTQIA+ people to have steady relationships. Nevertheless, the LGBTQIA+ communities are still able to socialise, organise, date, and even live together as couples, if done mostly in secret. There are signs of tolerance improving in Pakistani society. The presence of trans* people in society is usually more tolerated and even considered blessed in Pakistani culture.
Some of the – mostly - gay men forced to flee the country and claim asylum in other countries like European countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom and South Korea in some cases.
