Engro Polymer & Chemicals (EPCL), a subsidiary of Engro Corporation, and Engro Foundation partnered with Descon Technical Institute to train the first batch of women forklift operators in Pakistan. This initiative is in line with Engro’s commitment to cultivating an inclusive culture and extending its impact to a broader community spectrum.

The Umeed-e-Nouh training program is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at empowering and equipping women with the knowledge and expertise for challenging technical roles. This seven-week program focused on training women to operate forklifts at manufacturing and supply chain sites. After a thorough selection process, 21 out of 172 candidates were selected.

Regarding this groundbreaking initiative, Jahangir Piracha, CEO of Engro Polymer & Chemicals, emphasised, “Engro remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing diversity through a dedicated focus on inclusion, particularly within technical domains. Beyond offering training opportunities, our priority was establishing a nurturing environment that empowers and facilitates women, enabling them to concentrate fully on their learning and gaining financial stability. We are dedicated to instigating transformative change that extends its impact to a broader societal level.”

They were also provided with necessary resources to support the candidates, including a weekly stipend for financial support, lunch during training sessions, and a safe commute to and from the location. A third-party certification was also given from a testing facility, Inspectest, verifying their operational skills and certifying their training as sufficient for operational roles. Engro and other manufacturing facilities will now look for opportunities to get these women employed in technical roles.