Open Mind Pakistan is an exclusive management trainee Inclusion program designed by Telenor Pakistan aiming to act as a Launchpad for persons with disabilities and help them build a successful career in the corporate world. As part of the program, 16-18 persons with disabilities (PwDs) on board for a one year regular program to enhance their skills and abilities to pave way for better career opportunities.
As an organization, we take pride in pioneering inclusion and accessibility in Pakistan and believe in creating opportunities and a level playing field for everyone. Based on ILO’s Inclusive Work Trial and Supported Employment Models, Open Mind Pakistan is an exclusive Management Program where trainees are placed across the organization under a comprehensive on-job training and capacity building module. It aligns with the UNs SDG No. 10 – Reducing Inequalities and Telenor’s commitment to promote a diverse and inclusive workforce, where everybody can realize their true potential. The program not only enables persons with disability to improve their skills, exposure and make them a productive member of the society but also develops a diverse talent pool for employers to tap into.
Telenor Pakistan is also the first BU outside the Nordics to strategically take up the initiative and demonstrate promising results. We have successfully concluded 5 annual iterations so far where 73 talented and inspiring PwDs have gone through the program, learning as well as contributing immensely in their respective roles. So far 2 out of 3 graduates are successfully working in Telenor Pakistan and in other likeminded organizations which makes 75% success rate of open mind Pakistan.. This is a great ratio keeping in mind the prevalent job conditions in Pakistan.

https://www.telenor.com.pk/about/corporate-social-responsibility/disability

• Pakistan

Telenor Pakistan is one of the first companies in the country to really make disability a priority area on their agenda. This has earned us the recognition as a best-practice case in an international report commissioned by the British Council. Moving from the margins is a custom research report produced for the British Council which examines the challenges, opportunities and policy issues affecting persons with disabilities in Pakistan.
In 2013 Telenor Pakistan proudly announced the launch of Open Mind Pakistan (a localized adaptation of similar program in Telenor Norge) exclusive management trainee program for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), making it the first BU outside Scandinavia to strategically take up the Initiative. In the absence of any precedence or governing framework in the country, the program is widely acclaimed and termed as an exemplary success story that can be adopted and replicated in public and private sectors to any scale.

Open mind is an ideal example of shared values which means it’s a win-win-win paradigm for all the stakeholders. It’s a win for persons with disabilities by integrating them in a top notch corporate environment defining stereotypes and making them self-reliant. A win for employers, who can tap valuable untapped human resource which can be a great source of inspiration and motivation for the rest of workforce and it is also an example for others to replicate. Its a win for society most importantly because you are mainstreaming huge marginalized segment of society and making them productive and contributive members of society and also it leads to voluntary compliance of international charters, convention and local laws. Open Mind Program ties in with 'The Sustainable Development Goals', where SDG 10 speciafically talk about reducing inequalities.

Open mind is an ideal example of shared values and winning teams. its a great platform to tap untap valuable human resource and show the world that persons with disabilities can become productive part of society if realized.