Employers Federation of Pakistan
The Apex Body of Employers of Pakistan
Event
Inclusivity Drive: Punjab’s First Job Fair for Persons with Disabilities Empowers 1,400 Job Seekers
Job Fair for Persons with Disabilities 2024, organized under the collaborative work of the Pakistan Business and Disability Network (PBDN) and GIZ-WE, was a groundbreaking event for Punjab. This job fair, the first of its kind, brought together over 1,400 persons with disabilities and 20 leading employers from various industries. It was a striking moment that showcased the collective commitment of public and private sectors toward creating sustainable, long-term employment solutions for Persons with disability.
Building Sustainable Career Pathways
The fair provided a valuable platform for employers and people with disabilities to connect and explore career opportunities, ensuring equal access to employment for individuals with disabilities. The strong turnout emphasized the significance of hosting similar events in the future.
Continuing this effort, PBDN, in collaboration with GIZ-WE and development partners, will offer post-induction team development workshops and sign language training to employers who hire persons with disabilities at the fair. This initiative ensures that inclusivity becomes a sustained, embedded practice in workplaces nationwide, rather than a one-time event.
Public-Private Partnership: A Unified Front for Inclusion
The job fair was a model of how public-private partnerships can drive meaningful progress. The Special Education Department played a pivotal role by facilitating transportation for Persons with disability from across Pakistan, allowing broader participation and demonstrating how public institutions can actively foster inclusivity.
Civil Society Collaboration: Strengthening the Network
Civil society played an instrumental role in promoting and facilitating the event. Organizations such as Hamza Foundation, CHIP, DeafReach, Milestone, PSDF, and Al Khidmat Foundation mobilized their networks to bring visibility to the job fair, resulting in over 1,400 participants. Their collaboration further underscored the importance of an integrated approach to inclusivity, combining efforts across various sectors.
Corporate Sector Engagement: Leading the Way
Leading employers from industries including textile, petroleum, IT, and non-profit sectors participated, reflecting the private sector’s growing commitment to inclusive employment. These companies offered numerous job opportunities to Persons with disability, supporting a sustainable inclusion strategy. Notable participants included:
The event initiated critical discussions around long-term sustainability and future collaboration among employers, civil society, and public institutions. Employers have committed to offering ongoing support through post-induction workshops and sign language training, ensuring that Persons with disability not only find employment but thrive in inclusive workplaces.
This job fair marked a historic step in bridging the gap between persons with disabilities and employment opportunities. It laid a solid foundation for future initiatives focused on sustainable progress through inclusive partnerships. The success of this event ensures that Persons with a disability can look forward to a future where they are not just included but empowered to excel in the workforce.
Are you interested to take part in future Job Fairs, write to us as pbdn@efp.org.pk
“Times have changed; we must recognize that PWDs are an extremely important segment of our society and must be fully integrated.
It is our collective responsibility to inspire and support PWDs, ensuring they always have hope”
“The issue lies not with disabled people themselves but with a system that fails to support them adequately.
Due to 85 percent of the population, 15 percent population is forced to be disabled”
