Aimed at enhancing awareness, accessibility and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities 
(PWDs), Telenor Pakistan, through a one of its kind special trainee program ‘Open Mind Pakistan’, conducted a comprehensive 3 months functional and on-the-job training of 16 persons with physical disabilities in the company.
The successful graduation of the first batch was marked by a ceremony, which was attended by top management of Telenor Pakistan and important disability advocacy stakeholders from both the public and social sector.
Open Mind Pakistan, was launched under Telenor Pakistan’s flagship disability initiative ‘Khuddar Pakistan’, which focuses on the areas of awareness, accessibility and integration regarding persons with disability. An elaborate mechanism of online testing, interviewing, onboarding and training was developed for this special trainee program keeping in view the unique needs of PWDs in consultation with Telenor Pakistan’s disability advisors Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) and the Director General of Special Education, Government of Pakistan.
On this occasion, Lars Christian Iuel, Chief Executive Officer, Telenor Pakistan said, “Open Mind Pakistan is not only a unique opportunity for PWDs to work in a competitive corporate environment, thereby enhancing their employment prospects, but is a significant step forward for Telenor Pakistan in its strive to become an inclusive organization. It is an example for the rest of the corporate sector to follow and a testimony of our commitment to work towards mainstreaming marginalized segments of Pakistan’s society.”
Earlier, Muhammad Aslam Hayat, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Telenor Pakistan and Muhammad Shoaib Baig, Chief HR Officer and Vice President, Telenor Pakistan warmly welcomed all the Open Mind Trainees for bringing in technical prowess and professional acumen besides diversity and sheer inspiration to the company.
The shortlisted trainees underwent a comprehensive 3 months training programme, which ranged from basic management courses to soft skills development and Telenor Pakistan’s policy/systems orientation. Qualifying PWDs from this batch will now be placed as trainees in each division of Telenor Pakistan for a period of 9 months.
