Differently-abled youth earn technical diplomas

CM says over 4,000 persons with disabilities have completed free skills training

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday said that so far 4,200 persons with disabilities have completed skills training, with 1,700 securing jobs in 22 industries under the Hunarmand Programme.

Notably, a third of graduates are women with disabilities, CM said addressing the Graduation Ceremony 2024-25 of Persons with Disabilities organised by the Network of Organizations Working for People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP) in Korangi.

Shah said the Sindh government is determined to ensure inclusion and dignity for differently?abled citizens. He reaffirmed his government's commitment to empowering persons with disabilities through skills development, education, and employment.

The ceremony, attended by senior officials including Secretary DEPD Tauha Farooqui, NOWPDP President Amin Hashwani, CEO Omair Ahmed, and GM Fatima Jamil, marked the achievements of graduates under the Hunarmand Programme-a partnership between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and NOWPDP. Supported financially by DEPD, the programme aims to equip persons with disabilities with marketable skills.

Shah noted that over the past five years, more than 65,000 persons with disabilities have directly benefited from government initiatives, while joint projects with NOWPDP have positively impacted 325,000 individuals across Sindh. "Our objective is to bring real improvement in the lives of persons with disabilities and empower them to play a positive role in society," he said.