The first lady of Pakistan Begum Samina Arif Alvi said that the people with disabilities deserve access to all opportunities, particularly mainstreaming in education and employment. She was addressing Determined Pakistan Seminar at Pakistan Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai. Theme of the seminar was Pakistan – a progressive country towards inclusion & empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Addressing the Seminar, Guest of Honor Her Excellency Sheikha Dr. Hind Al Qassimi thanked the Organizers on holding such an important seminar by attending which she is amazed to learn the progress Pakistan is making for people with special needs.
“Pakistan is a developing country and there is a need of collaborations and partnerships among the stakeholders working for inclusion & empowerment of PwDs to accelerate the progress and achieve better and fast results”, said Adeeb Aijaz, Co-Founder Determined Pakistan.
Dr. Maryam Mallick, Technical Advisor, Disability, Rehab., Injury Prevention & Road Safety, WHO presented the vision towards Disability Inclusive Pakistan.
HE Henrik Persson, Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan; Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division and Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2020; Erum Assad, Co- Founder Iqra University; Ronak Lakhani, Chairperson Special Olympics Pakistan were also among the dignitaries attended the seminar.
Speakers of the seminar included Hassan Muhammad Khan, Chancellor Riphah University; Ibrahim Malik, Executive Director, Iqra University; Zaigham M. Rizvi, Chairman PM Task for Housing; Richard Geary, Founder, Deaf Reach Program; Dr. Syed Qaiser Anis, President PBPC, Sarwat Nasim Shah, MD Zaamin Group; Niaz Malik, Ex-Deputy CEO Zong; Muneeba Haroon, Director Operations NOWPDP; Salman Elahi, President, BINAE Welfare Association; Haseeb Abbasi, Special Olympics Pakistan – SS International Global Messenger; HS Umer Farooq.
Begum Samina Arif Alvi commended the organizers’ initiative of holding such an important seminar at Expo 2020 Dubai from where the true image of Pakistan is being projected in all fields. The seminar was organized by Ripple Koncepts Pakistan, co-organized by Pakistan Business Professional Council Abu Dhabi.
