DNA
Islamabad 2026
South Asia’s Leading Disability Inclusion Enterprise, ConnectHear in collaboration with Serena Hotels, successfully brings Access.Ability.Careers. to Islamabad for the first time, expanding its mission to create inclusive employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Pakistan.
Held on 15th April 2026 at Islamabad Serena Hotel, the event brings together 600+ Persons with Disabilities from Islamabad and surrounding areas, along with 15+ companies from the financial, telecommunications, and textile sectors.
Supported by public and private institutions, including the Directorate General for Special Education, the event provided a platform for PWDs to connect with employers, explore career opportunities, and showcase their skills in a professional environment. This collaboration is part of Serena Hotels’ wider Public Diplomacy efforts, through which the organisation supports initiatives that promote inclusion, empowerment, and constructive community engagement.
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Building on the success of previous editions, Access.Ability.Careers. has already engaged 50+ corporates nationwide and facilitated 500+ job placements, creating meaningful pathways to employment for Persons with Disabilities. The event connects a diverse group of candidates including experienced professionals, recent graduates, and first-time job seekers with organizations committed to inclusive hiring.
Through employer booths, networking sessions, and direct engagement opportunities, participants are able to interact with recruiters, apply for roles, and build connections that lead to interviews and employment.
Previous editions have demonstrated strong outcomes, with many participants securing interviews and job opportunities, highlighting the importance of creating consistent and accessible hiring platforms.
Aziz Boolani, CEO, Serena Hotels, said:
“At Serena Hotels, we believe true progress is achieved when opportunities are accessible to all. We are pleased to support Access.Ability.Careers. in Islamabad and to partner in creating a platform that connects talented Differently abled individuals with meaningful employment opportunities. Initiatives such as these are essential in building a more inclusive, empowered, and equitable future’’.
The event commenced with a heartfelt welcome address by Arhum Ishtiaq and Azima Dhanjee, co-founders of ConnectHear. Highlighting the importance of inclusive workplaces, the founders stated, “Nine years ago, we started ConnectHear with a goal: to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to feel empowered and enhance their quality of life. Supported by the public and private sector and powered by technology, we’ve extended our reach and deepened our impact, especially through our Access.Ability. initiatives. Like today, together, we’ve enabled over 5000+ talented individuals with disabilities to showcase their skills to some of the top companies across the country. This now needs to happen more often for sustainable and scalable results. We’re thankful for the support from all our partners. The success we’ve seen today drives us to make these initiatives more regular, shaping a more inclusive professional world.”
A student with hearing impairment from the Directorate General for Special Education shared:
“Opportunities like this give us confidence that we can work, support ourselves, and be a respected and independent part of society. Employment is not just about earning — it is about dignity.”
Since its inception in 2017, ConnectHear has focused on accessible information and communication for Persons with Disabilities through technology. The company launched the ConnectHear Application, which is the first-ever virtual sign language interpretation solution in Pakistan that helps Deaf individuals to have access to remote and instant sign language interpreters on their smartphones and help businesses provide accessible communication to Deaf customers and employees.
In just a couple of years since launch, they’ve provided more than a million minutes of interpretation through their own platform and now they’ve also developed a real-time sign language recognition solution using A.I. that will be one of its first globally! ConnectHear has worked with 150+ companies for inclusion of persons with disabilities and is constantly working towards larger impact through on-going partnerships. The company has been recognized by The Diana Award, World Summit Award and Forbes for its efforts. ConnectHear would like to express its gratitude to Serena Hotels for their commitment towards inclusion.
