Karachi
\nThe Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) organized a unique event, the \u201cDining in the Dark Experience,\u201d in collaboration with Khaas Foodz Kitchen (KFK) on Thursday. This initiative brought together OICCI\u2019s member companies and foreign investors to emphasize the importance of disability inclusion and address the challenges persons with disabilities (PWDs) face in corporate environments.
\nThe highlight of the event was a sensory dining experience, where attendees were blindfolded and led through the meal cooked by visually impaired chefs from KFK, a social enterprise committed to training and employing individuals with disabilities. This unique setting allowed participants to experience first-hand the difficulties PWDs face, fostering empathy and sparking discussions on inclusion.
\nAhmed Bozai, Chairperson of OICCI\u2019s Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, emphasized the need for corporate Pakistan to drive change. \u201cInclusive environments are more than just a moral responsibility- they are a business necessity. People with disabilities bring immense talent, and it\u2019s time we create pathways for them to fully contribute and thrive,\u201d said Ahmed during his keynote speech.
\nFollowing the dining experience, the event featured a panel discussion with industry leaders, including Ali Tareen, founder of Khaas Foodz Kitchen, Fizza Hussain, co-founder, KFK, Saadia Fahad, general manager DEI, K-Electric, and Fatima Arshad, head of communications and sustainability, Unilever Pakistan. The discussion explored the challenges and opportunities that businesses face in creating inclusive workplaces and the importance of adopting disability-friendly policies.
\nOICCI\u2019s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) surveys reveal that while about half of respondents prioritize D&I, representation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) remains low, with less than 0.5% of permanent employees being PWDs. Commenting on this, OICCI Secretary General M Abdul Aleem said, \u201cOur goal is to improve these numbers. It\u2019s crucial for our member companies to move beyond policies and actively foster work environments where persons with disabilities can thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Karachi The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) organized a unique event, the \u201cDining in the Dark Experience,\u201d in collaboration with Khaas Foodz Kitchen (KFK) on Thursday. This initiative brought together OICCI\u2019s member companies and foreign investors to emphasize the importance of disability inclusion and address the challenges persons with disabilities (PWDs) face […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":439275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-439258","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n