The Network of Organizations Working with People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP) is a disability inclusion initiative that has been working towards furthering the mandate of disability inclusion across Pakistan since 2008. A Zero Project Awardee at the United Nations, NOWPDP has been working tirelessly in the areas of identity, welfare, education, and economic empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Over the past 14 years, NOWPDP has worked relentlessly to change the narrative of society to have a more accepting attitude towards PWDs so they may be treated as equal citizens. Operating in three cities across Pakistan, namely Karachi, Sujawal, and Islamabad, we hope to stay true to our mandate by working on the following pillars:
- Rehnumai (Guidance) – Guiding people on disability rights and services available through dissemination of information online and community outreach programs
- Shanakht (Identity) – Facilitating and increasing access to acquire Special CNICs
- Falah (Welfare) – Providing assistive devices, basic health-care, distributing rations, access to clean drinking water
- Taleem (Education) – Making primary education available to children with disabilities
- Hunar (Skills Development) – Imparting demand driven skills development and trainings
- Rozgar (Employment) – Placing PWDs and building capacity of organizations
- Khudmukhtari (Self-employment) – Creating self-employment opportunities through initiatives such as The Rickshaw Project
In recent years, NOWPDP9s efforts on the disability rights advocacy front led to the passing of the ‘Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act (2018)’ in the provincial legislature and the subsequent creation of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD). NOWPDP has also worked closely with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to introduce a comprehensive policy for improving financial inclusion for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Staying true to our mission of spreading education and inclusivity across Pakistan, in the year 2020, we set up Moriro Markaz, our Center of Excellence for Disability Inclusion in Sujawal. The Markaz is situated in the heart of Sujawal and is a focused school for children with disabilities who come from the neighboring underserved communities. Moreover, we also operate a school in Karachi called “The Inclusion Academy” (TIA) which serves as an inclusive school.
In line with our vision, we are currently working on developing a Center of Excellence for Financial Inclusion (CEFI) and an Executive Training Center in Karachi for the skills development and economic empowerment of PWDs.