ConnectHear and Serena Hotels Host Access.Ability.Careers. 2026 in Islamabad
Job Pathways Open for Persons with Disabilities as 15+ Companies Join Access.Ability.Careers. 2026
Islamabad – 17 April, 2026 (Adnan Hameed) : South Asia’s leading disability inclusion enterprise, ConnectHear, in collaboration with Serena Hotels, successfully brought Access.Ability.Careers. to Islamabad for the first time, further advancing its mission to create inclusive employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Pakistan.
The event was held at Islamabad Serena Hotel, the event brought together more than 600 Persons with Disabilities from Islamabad and surrounding areas, along with over 15 companies representing the financial, telecommunications, and textile sectors. It was 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.
The initiative also aligns with Serena Hotels’ broader Public Diplomacy efforts aimed at promoting inclusion, empowerment, and meaningful community engagement.
Building on the success of previous editions, Access.Ability.Careers. has engaged over 50 corporates nationwide and facilitated more than 500 job placements, creating sustainable pathways to employment for Persons with Disabilities.
The event brought together a diverse pool 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 interacted with recruiters, applied for positions, and built connections leading to interviews and employment. Previous editions have demonstrated strong outcomes, with many participants successfully securing job opportunities, highlighting the importance of consistent and accessible hiring platforms.
Speaking on the occasion, Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena Hotels, stated, “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 welcome address by ConnectHear co-founders Arhum Ishtiaq and Azima Dhanjee, who highlighted the importance of inclusive workplaces. They noted that since its inception nine years ago, ConnectHear has worked to ensure equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities through technology-driven solutions. They emphasized that more than 5,000 individuals with disabilities have been enabled to showcase their skills to leading companies across Pakistan through Access.Ability. initiatives, while stressing the need for more frequent and scalable efforts to sustain impact.
A student with hearing impairment from the Directorate General for Special Education shared that such opportunities foster confidence and independence, emphasizing that employment represents not only financial stability but also dignity and respect in society.
Since its establishment in 2017, ConnectHear has focused on accessible communication solutions for Persons with Disabilities. The organization introduced Pakistan’s first virtual sign language interpretation application, enabling Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals to access remote interpretation services via smartphones while supporting businesses in ensuring inclusive communication.
ConnectHear has collaborated with over 150 companies to advance inclusion and has received international recognition, including The Diana Award, World Summit Award, and Forbes, for its impactful contributions.
