KARACHI: The Sindh government and Aga Khan University have entered into a five-year collaboration valued at over Rs439 million to enhance inclusive education for persons with disabilities across the province. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to establish a Special Educational Needs Unit and advance a sustainable inclusive education system in Sindh.

According to Chief Minister Sindh, the agreement was signed at the CM House between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and the Aga Khan University-Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED). The initiative will focus on creating specialized training facilities, policy support, and public awareness initiatives. The ceremony was attended by key figures including Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Aga Khan University President Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, and other stakeholders from the education and disability sectors.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted the MoU as a strategic partnership that aims to fortify institutional capacity and improve educational access for children with disabilities. The collaboration is expected to strengthen research, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin emphasized the importance of an inclusive education system in fostering an equitable society and expressed pride in the partnership’s potential to develop innovative solutions and support public-sector reforms.
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The partnership, which runs from July 2026 to June 2031, will see the Government of Sindh contribute Rs278.56 million and AKU-IED Rs160.65 million. The initiative will also involve disability inclusion partners such as NOWPDP to aid in implementation, advocacy, and community outreach.