KARACHI: The Pakistan Business & Disability Network (PBDN), hosted by the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) with support from Sightsavers, GIZ, and the ILO, held its 3rd meeting in Karachi. The meeting gathered prominent business leaders, disability inclusion advocates, and representatives from various organizations to discuss PBDN’s progress and future initiatives aimed at promoting disability inclusion in the workplace.
Former President and Director of EFP, Majyd Aziz, opened the meeting by commending the impactful work being done by PBDN. He stressed the importance of establishing a comprehensive database of organizations working for Persons with Disabilities and called for greater visibility of the network’s efforts, as many businesses are still unaware of the strides being made in disability inclusion in Pakistan.
Munnaza Gillani from Sightsavers praised EFP’s leadership and reiterated Sightsavers’ commitment to driving the network forward, emphasizing that meaningful progress in disability inclusion requires strong public-private collaboration.
Saquiba Aziz from GIZ emphasized the need to create a non-discriminatory workplace environment for Persons with Disabilities, challenging the common practice of confining Persons with Disabilities to non-executive positions and advocating for their inclusion in executive roles. She highlighted that mentorship and guidance are critical in fostering a more inclusive workplace.
The meeting featured a presentation by the EFP Secretary General Syed Nazar Ali, who outlined the network’s initiatives over the past year and shared future plans to elevate PBDN’s agenda. The presentation showcased key activities such as awareness raising, job fairs, and policy dialogues aimed at promoting disability inclusion in Pakistan.
The attendees actively contributed to the discussion, offering insightful suggestions. Mobeen Chughtai from Soorty Enterprises Pvt Ltd. proposed creating videos showcasing companies’ successful practices in disability inclusion to build trust and inspire other organizations to follow suit.
Sohabia Taqdees from GIZ recommended sharing global best practices to motivate further efforts in disability inclusion. She also emphasized the importance of fostering innovation within disability inclusion strategies. By adopting innovative approaches, organizations can create more dynamic, adaptable environments that meet the evolving needs of Persons with Disabilities.
Fareed Siddiqui from the Employment Exchange Govt of Sindh underscored the importance of collaborating with government bodies to ensure the successful implementation of PBDN’s initiatives.
One of the key discussions revolved around the challenges of retaining Persons with Disabilities in the workforce. Attendees highlighted the need for training programs focused on skill development and enhancement to help Persons with Disabilities adapt to evolving market demands.
Secretary General Nazar Ali introduced the action plan for the upcoming year, which includes organizing apprenticeship programs and job fairs in Lahore and Karachi to maximize the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the workforce.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from all participants to continue working towards creating a more inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities and to actively contribute to PBDN’s initiatives, ensuring that Persons with Disabilities are integrated into all levels of the workforce.
