KARACHI: There were several diligent workers busy using airing guns, distressing guns and the grinding wheel on ripped pairs of denim jeans.

The occasion was the launch of the Network of Organisations Working with People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP) denim finishing facility set up in collaboration with Soorty Enterprises for the employment of at least 35 deaf and mute persons here on Wednesday.

“I designed clothing and jewellery for a garment factory and was doing alright for myself until this Covid-19 pandemic. That’s when I lost my job,” Shiraz Ahmed told Dawn through a sign language interpreter.

“Fashion is all I know and the world of fashion is where I gained my experience. I didn’t know if I could get another job in such uncertain times and I felt dread like never before because I have to support my family. Now after receiving training at NOWPDP denim finishing facility, I am glad to have picked up another skill and I have been assured of getting a job too,” he added.

Dania Anwar, vice principal of the facility, said that dry processing of denim jeans was normally a noisy procedure. “Workers in denim factories wear earphones when doing the work, but here as you can see, our workers are not bothered by the noise,” she smiled and signalled to the trainees about what she just said to receive broad smiles and chuckles in return.

All the trainees at the facility are deaf and mute. “We work with them in batches of six and each process such as airing, distressing or grinding takes around five days to master,” Ms Anwar explained.

“This is another step from NOWPDP [to] further the cause of inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. It is one of a kind training in the textile industry of Pakistan,” said Amna Imam of NOWPDP.

Funding for the programme was released under the Soorty Prism Project, an instrument created to increase inclusion of diverse communities among the workforce at Soorty Enterprises. They also sent three trainers from the denim factory to train the men.

“The Covid-19 pandemic hit some people hard as they lost their jobs while businesses were winding up or closing. Among them the disabled got an even bigger blow as jobs for them don’t come easy anyway,” she pointed out. “But Soorty has also committed to employing all our 35 trainees at their company,” she added.

The denim finishing training is an intricate course on creating aesthetic denim garments that people with disabilities are mastering in these classes now.

The signing event was attended by representatives of both organisations as well as the trainees. There was also an interpreter to help the trainees communicate.

“We are ecstatic to be collaborating with NOWPDP where we will be able to play a role in furthering the mission of inclusion and economic empowerment for people with disabilities. Most importantly, through this project, we are also making our facility completely inclusive and accessible,” said Asad Soorty, director, Soorty Enterprises.

“Partnerships such as these truly pave way for such inclusive work to happen. We are thankful that we got this opportunity to transform more lives of persons with disabilities,” said Omair Ahmad, executive director, NOWPDP. He also reiterated the need for inclusion and empathy in the Pakistani workforce.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2020