Access.Ability.Careers 2025 Empowers 2,500 Job Seekers with Disabilities
Karachi: ConnectHear in partnership with Standard Chartered Pakistan as the title sponsor successfully hosted the 3rd edition of the Access.Ability.Careers. in Karachi reaffirming its commitment to creating meaningful employment pathways for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Held at The Horizon Banquet on Shahrah-e-Faisal, the event brought together a diverse lineup of inclusive employers and thousands of job seekers in a fully accessible space. Building on the success of Access.Ability.Careers. in Karachi 2024 and Lahore 2025, where 3,800+ job seekers with disabilities connected with 60+ companies, this yearʼs event took it a step further.
Access.Ability.Careers 2025 Empowers 2,500 Job Seekers with Disabilities Inclusive Hiring
Access.Ability.Careers., 3rd edition successfully brought together more than 2000 job seekers with disabilities, aged 18 to 35, across multiple disability categories. A significant majority—over two-thirds—were individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, while nearly one in five had physical impairments. More than one in ten were persons with visual impairments, and a smaller proportion identified with other disabilities. Over 35 leading companies from sectors such as banking, pharmaceutical, IT, Textile, FMCG and Agriculture sectors. The momentum continues to expand, creating more opportunities for PwDs to secure employment in a variety of sectors, while companies committed to disability inclusion further demonstrate their support for a diverse workforce.
Participants came from varied educational backgrounds. Almost half of the attendees had completed their bachelor's degree, about a quarter had an intermediate-level education, and a notable group held masterʼs degrees or had completed matriculation. A smaller portion had educational qualifications below matriculation, reflecting the broad spectrum of learners and professionals eager for inclusive opportunities.
The fair was designed with comprehensive accessibility in mind—featuring wheelchair ramps, on-site sign language interpreters, and trained guides for individuals with visual impairments to ensure an equitable experience for all attendees. The initiative reflects ConnectHearʼs broader vision of cultivating a workforce where talent is recognized without barriers.
New to this yearʼs fair, ConnectHear organized Disability Sensitization Training for the corporate partners involved. Over 40 HR representatives participated in the first-ever training session, aimed at equipping them with the awareness and skills to interact confidently with PwDs. The session was met with enthusiasm and commitment, setting the tone for a more inclusive and respectful hiring process.
Azima Dhanjee, Co-Founder of ConnectHear, commented on the success of the event: "The third edition of Access.Ability.Careers. marks a major milestone for disability-inclusive employment in Pakistan. With over 2,500 job seekers and more than 35 inclusive companies across diverse sectors, weʼve shown that inclusive hiring isnʼt just possible—itʼs driving real impact where it matters most.ˮ
Yasir Khwaja, Head HR, Standard Chartered Bank stated “The Bank is committed to supporting diverse and inclusive hiring practices. Platforms such as Access. Ability. Careers provide both jobseekers and recruiting companiesʼ meaningful opportunities to connect with one another. Standard Chartered Pakistanʼs partnership with ConnectHear is a testament to our shared belief in inclusive growth and building a disability confident Pakistan.ˮ
To further support attendees, ConnectHear launched a Career Navigation Hub—a dedicated space where job seekers received one-on-one feedback on their CVs and guidance on professional growth directly from HR professionals. The hub was widely appreciated by participants for its personalized approach. To ensure tailored support, the hub featured dedicated booths catering to all disability groups,allowing each attendee to engage with resources and experts most relevant to their needs.
ConnectHear also introduced the Sign Language Express—an engaging booth designed to teach basic Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) to attendees, including employers and visitors. This interactive initiative allowed participants to learn basic signs, promoting inclusion and awareness.
Arhum Ishtiaq, Co-Founder of ConnectHear, shared:
"This year marked a defining chapter in our journey to advance disability-inclusive employment through Access.Ability.Careers. Under my leadership, we introduced transformative features—the Career Navigation Hub, Sign Language Express, and comprehensive Disability Sensitization Training—each designed to provide deeper, more structured support to both job seekers with disabilities and inclusive employers.
These arenʼt just new tools—they represent a systemic shift. From guided tours customized for the Visually Impaired to a commitment to universal design that addresses the needs of people with all forms of disability, Access.Ability.Careers is actively reshaping the landscape of hiring in South Asia and beyond.
This is not simply about providing jobs. Itʼs about creating a future where the hiring process is rooted in dignity, representation, and equal opportunity. We are building a movement—one that invites everyone who believes in true inclusion to be part of redefining what employment means for people with disabilities.
Weʼre not waiting for change. Weʼre engineering it."
ConnectHear extends its heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of Access.Ability.Careers 2025. Special thanks to our Title Sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank, and our Silver Sponsors, BankIslami Pakistan Ltd, Hoechst Pakistan Ltd, National Bank of Pakistan, and Meezan Bank Ltd. We also appreciate the invaluable support of our Booth Partners, including Hilal Foods Pvt Ltd, Syngenta, Easypaisa Digital Bank, Faysal Bank Ltd, Habib Metropolitan Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Raqami Islamic Digital Bank, Contour Software Pvt Ltd, Lucky Core Industries Ltd, HBL MicroFinance Bank, Al Baraka Bank, Feroze 1888 Mills Ltd, Allied Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, JS Bank, Mondelez, Bank Al Makramah, State Bank of Pakistan, Getz Pharma, EFU Life, The Hub Power Company Limited, Jazz, Bank al Habib, and MCB.
A sincere thank you also goes to our Support Partners Martin Dow, AGP Limited, and LDC, as well as our Coffee Partner, Espresso, and Tea Partner, Tapal Tea. Our Outreach Partners, including Hustle, Catchup with Aisha, FM 91, Loug, Katalyst Labs, Casual Guftugu and HR Networking Forum have played a crucial role in amplifying the eventʼs message and ensuring its success.
We are grateful for the collaboration of all our partners and participants in helping make Access.Ability.Careers 2025 an impactful and successful event.
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