ConnectHear has brought its disability-inclusive job fair, Access.Ability.Careers, back to Karachi for the third time, with Standard Chartered Pakistan serving as platinum sponsor, Brandsynario reported.
The assistive-tech startup, which describes itself as South Asia’s leading disability inclusion enterprise, has run the event since its inception. Its stated mission is to open inclusive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) across Pakistan.
Nearly 2,000 job seekers, 30-plus employers
The fair brought together almost 2,000 persons with disabilities from Karachi and neighbouring cities, alongside more than 30 companies from the financial, telecommunications and textile sectors.
The event was supported by public and private institutions, including the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and SPDPA, the Sindh Persons with Disabilities Protection Authority. Together they provided a platform for candidates to meet employers, explore career opportunities and present their skills in a professional setting.
Through employer booths, networking sessions and direct engagement, participants interacted with recruiters, applied for roles and built connections aimed at interviews and employment.
A track record of placements
Previous editions engaged more than 60 corporations nationwide and led to multiple job placements in various cities, with many participants securing interviews. Targeted inclusion efforts have opened new markets in Pakistan before, and disability-inclusive hiring works on the same logic. The 2026 edition follows the same model: employers set up booths, recruiters held conversations on the spot, and candidates left with leads rather than just brochures.
What the sponsors and partners said
Adil Salahuddin, chief executive and head of coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, told the media that the bank had backed the initiative since its start.
“At Standard Chartered, we believe talent is universal, but opportunity is not always equally accessible,” he said. “Creating pathways to employment for persons with disabilities is not only the right thing to do, it also makes business sense.”
He added: “Diverse and inclusive workplaces drive innovation, strengthen decision-making and better reflect the communities we serve.”
Azima Dhanjee, chief executive and co-founder of ConnectHear, said her perspective was shaped at home. “Growing up with two Deaf parents showed me what people can achieve when they have equal opportunities,” she said. She pointed to global figures: around 1.3 billion people worldwide experience significant disability, and the disability market represents an estimated US$18.3 trillion in spending power.
“Our goal is a world where every person’s skills are recognised and everyone has a fair chance to succeed,” she said.
Alison Blackburne, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, said: “Everyone should have the opportunity to build a career and fulfil their potential. ConnectHear and Standard Chartered are helping to make that possible by bringing people with disabilities and employers together.”
Why it matters for Karachi’s workforce
Disability inclusion in hiring remains a weak spot in Pakistan’s formal economy. The presence of the DEPD and SPDPA at the fair matters because it signals state institutions engaging with private employers on the same platform, rather than leaving inclusion to charity drives.
Karachi’s business community has hosted conferences on microfinance and financial inclusion and continues to grapple with the city’s business environment, but dedicated disability hiring events remain rare. ConnectHear’s appointment of a disability adviser in Karachi earlier this year was one small step; a recurring fair that connects nearly 2,000 candidates with real recruiters is a larger one.
The business case, as Salahuddin framed it, is straightforward. Companies that exclude disabled talent narrow their own hiring pools. Platforms like Access.Ability.Careers widen them, giving candidates direct access to decision-makers rather than online portals that often screen them out.
ConnectHear’s next test is the one every recurring fair faces. Attendance of 2,000 is a number; the figure that matters is how many of this year’s candidates sign offer letters in the coming months.
Frequently asked questions
What is Access.Ability.Careers?
It is a disability-inclusive job fair organised by the assistive-tech startup ConnectHear. The 2026 Karachi edition was its third, backed by Standard Chartered Pakistan as platinum sponsor.
How many people took part?
Almost 2,000 persons with disabilities from Karachi and neighbouring cities attended, alongside more than 30 employers from the financial, telecom and textile sectors.
Who supported the event?
Public and private institutions took part, including the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and SPDPA, plus 30-plus companies committed to inclusive hiring.
Has the fair produced results before?
Yes. Earlier editions engaged more than 60 corporations nationwide and led to multiple job placements in various cities, with many participants securing interviews.
What did the organisers say about the business case?
Standard Chartered’s Adil Salahuddin said diverse and inclusive workplaces drive innovation and better decision-making, while ConnectHear’s Azima Dhanjee cited the disability market’s estimated US$18.3 trillion in spending power.
