Karachi: The Pakistan Business and Disability Network (PBDN), in collaboration with the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP), Sightsavers, GIZ, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened for its third meeting to enhance disability inclusion strategies within the workplace. The assembly brought together distinguished business leaders, disability inclusion advocates, and organizational representatives to review PBDN’s achievements and strategize future actions to integrate Persons with Disabilities more fully into the workforce.
According to Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, the conference was opened by former EFP President and Director, Majyd Aziz, who lauded the progress of PBDN and underscored the necessity of a comprehensive database for organizations aiding Persons with Disabilities. Aziz also highlighted the need for increased visibility of these efforts to better inform and involve more businesses in the initiative.
Munnaza Gillani of Sightsavers commended the leadership of EFP and reiterated the organization’s dedication to advancing the network, emphasizing the critical role of public-private partnerships in achieving significant improvement in disability inclusion.
Saquiba Aziz from GIZ addressed the imperative to establish non-discriminatory workplace environments and advocated for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in executive roles, rather than limiting them to non-executive positions. She pointed out that mentorship is essential to nurture a more inclusive workplace culture.
The meeting featured a presentation by EFP Secretary General Syed Nazar Ali, who detailed the network’s undertakings over the past year and introduced upcoming projects designed to further PBDN’s mission. This includes activities such as awareness campaigns, job fairs, and policy dialogues specifically aimed at enhancing disability inclusion across Pakistan.
Contributions from attendees included a proposal by Mobeen Chughtai of Soorty Enterprises Pvt Ltd., who suggested the creation of videos demonstrating successful disability inclusion practices within companies to encourage similar actions by others.
Sohabia Taqdees from GIZ proposed the sharing of global best practices and the fostering of innovation in disability inclusion strategies to create adaptable and dynamic workplace environments.
Fareed Siddiqui from the Employment Exchange Govt of Sindh emphasized the importance of collaboration with government agencies to ensure effective implementation of PBDN’s initiatives.
The discussions also addressed challenges related to retaining Persons with Disabilities in the workforce, highlighting the necessity for training programs that focus on skills development to cope with changing market demands.
The meeting concluded with a unified commitment from all participants to continue striving towards a more inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities and to actively support the initiatives of PBDN, ensuring comprehensive integration at all levels of employment.