Taskeen Health Initiative launched its telephonic mental health service in September 2020 to expand access to free, confidential, and culturally appropriate mental health care across Pakistan. The initiative addresses barriers such as cost, geography, and stigma, offering scalable, anonymous support to individuals facing psychological distress. The project is managed by Taskeen’s internal team, with trained psychologists and coordinators providing direct services. A monitoring and evaluation team ensures service quality, while external collaborations with community organizations, policymakers, and donors help extend outreach and strengthen mental health infrastructure. As of December 2023, the helpline has conducted 18,786 consultations and reached the public through social media, mass media, and awareness campaigns. Continuous monitoring, data collection, and user feedback guide improvements, with key indicators—such as consultation volume, demographic reach, and response times—regularly reviewed alongside supervision and case evaluations to maintain accountability and enhance service effectiveness.

In Karachi’s urban displacement context, Afghan refugees and host communities face social divides and limited outlets for expression. The Urban Cohesion Hub (UCH) Karachi—managed by Inspire Pakistan with GIZ support—uses sports, arts, music, and cultural programming to promote inclusion, dialogue, and healing. Through weekly workshops, sports activities, music sessions, and exhibitions, refugee and host youth, women, and artists collaborate in safe, trauma-informed spaces. Since March 2024, over 7,000 participants have engaged directly and 20,000 indirectly, with equal representation from both communities and 60% participation by women and girls. Initiatives such as a joint art exhibition, a refugee-host music band, and Karachi’s first all-girls football team have fostered expression and confidence. Challenges included livelihood pressures, cultural barriers, and security disruptions. The project highlights how culturally grounded creative platforms can strengthen social cohesion, psychosocial well-being, and peaceful coexistence in urban humanitarian settings.

Pakistan’s healthcare system struggles to ensure standardized, evidence-based care at the primary level. To address this, Aga Khan University’s Centre for Clinical Best Practices (CCBP) developed the AKU Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines using the GRADE framework and partnered with the Sindh Government for its rollout. This study evaluated a pilot training program integrating the guidelines into clinical practice through a mixed-methods design involving 185 physicians from public health facilities. The 7-day self-paced module, combined with workshops and case discussions, led to significant knowledge gains—average scores rose from 46% to 79% (p < 0.001). Most participants found the manual relevant, user-friendly, and applicable. Qualitative feedback highlighted improved motivation for evidence-based practice and rational prescribing, though barriers included limited drug availability and digital access issues. The results demonstrate that structured, context-sensitive training can enhance clinical competence and promote standardized care in Pakistan’s primary healthcare system.

As KDSP expands its educational and developmental programs for individuals with Down syndrome, supporting parents’ emotional well-being remains central. The Family Support Groups (FSGs), offered as Emotional Support Groups (ESGs), provide counselor-led, safe, and non-judgmental spaces for parents to share experiences, process emotions, and build resilience. Integrated within KDSP’s core programs—Early Preparation for Education Program (EPEP), Tailored Assistance Program (TAP), and Education for Life (EFL)—ESGs are scheduled during children’s classes to encourage participation. Sessions are facilitated by trained counselors following structured protocols for communication and group consistency, with locally recruited counselors ensuring sustainability as new chapters grow. KDSP monitors impact through qualitative feedback and quantitative tools like the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and emotional check-ins, using findings to improve the model. The ESG initiative strengthens KDSP’s holistic approach, fostering emotional support, empowerment, and community among families of individuals with Down syndrome.

Founded in 2020, the Center for Arts-Based Methodologies & Wellbeing (CFAW) in Pakistan integrates arts, public health, and community engagement to promote inclusive, participatory approaches to learning, healing, and research. Its goals include enhancing mental and collective wellbeing through arts-based interventions, validating embodied and oral knowledge, fostering intergenerational and interdisciplinary dialogue, and decolonizing mental health and education systems. CFAW works with youth, elders, caregivers, health workers, educators, and artists, emphasizing marginalized and vulnerable groups. Collaborating with grassroots organizations, schools, and healthcare institutions, projects such as Pema, Marqab-e-Gehraiyi, and Mukhtari merge art, care, and community leadership. By 2025, CFAW has conducted over 250 workshops and events, reaching 6,500 people through programs at its community hub, Nani Ghar. Using a participatory monitoring framework grounded in storytelling and reflection, CFAW measures impact through emotional growth and community connection, reimagining wellbeing through art and shared creativity.

The STEAM Program in Sindh is revitalizing government schools by promoting creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving through interdisciplinary, activity-based learning in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Targeting grades 6–8 in SE&LD schools, the program empowers students—especially girls—through hands-on, inclusive education. It engages multiple stakeholders, including teachers, district education offices, universities, and local businesses, with oversight from the STEAM Policy Unit under SE&LD and the Ministry of Federal Education. To date, over 2,400 schools across 30 districts have joined, conducting 8,000+ activities and engaging more than 214,000 students. Eighty-one schools have reached advanced implementation levels. The program’s strong monitoring framework includes an online reporting portal, continuous teacher training, digital helpdesks, and the STEAM Muqablo competition. By building capacity, encouraging innovation, and fostering partnerships, the STEAM Program is transforming public education in Sindh and creating a sustainable model for quality learning.

The Civic Clubs Pilot Project is a school-based initiative introducing civic engagement to Grade 8 students in Karachi’s public schools. Funded by the International Institute of Education (IIE) under its Centennial Fellowship and implemented with SELD, Habib University, and Valeem Online, the project promotes youth participation and awareness of local issues in health, education, and climate change. It builds leadership, planning, and problem-solving skills through student-led, community-oriented activities. Targeting Grade 8 students, educators, and school administrators, the project fosters collaboration among schools, local communities, and government. A structured monitoring and evaluation framework tracks progress through baseline and endline surveys, pre- and post-activity forms, feedback sessions, and field visits. Midline and culmination reviews assess learning outcomes, engagement, and initiative. By embedding civic action within schools, the project cultivates responsible, proactive youth capable of addressing local challenges through collective participation.

The Skills to Income Accelerator, led by CaterpillHERs and funded by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), was a remote program empowering women in Sindh and Balochistan with digital and freelancing skills to enhance economic participation. Targeting women aged 18–45, especially those reentering the workforce, the program offered three phases: a 10-week Skills Accelerator in Graphic Design, Copywriting, Digital Marketing, and Virtual Assistance; a 12-week Freelance Accelerator with mentorship and coaching; and a 3-month remote internship. Of 67 enrollees from 20+ cities, 43 graduated (86% completion). Participants showed major gains—digital skills (+36.3%), freelancing confidence (+36.2%), and self-awareness (+29.1%). Despite infrastructure challenges, flexible delivery and peer support ensured retention. With plans to expand nationwide, add new tracks, and develop hybrid learning hubs, the initiative demonstrates a scalable, inclusive model for women-led digital upskilling and economic empowerment in Pakistan.

The Accelerated Digital Learning Program (ADLP) is a 30-month initiative led by Teach the World Foundation in partnership with the Sindh Education Foundation, funded by the Government of Sindh. Launched in June 2023, ADLP tackles Sindh’s education challenges by offering tablet-based accelerated learning for out-of-school children (OOSC) and improving instruction quality in schools. The program reaches 10,000 OOSC (Kindergarten–Grade 2) through 100 community MicroSchools and 2,500 in-school students (Grades 3–5) via 25 digital classrooms. Its goals include mainstreaming 6,000 OOSC into formal education and improving learning outcomes by 30% for at least 70% of participating students. ADLP operates across all seven divisions of Sindh, supported by robust monitoring that tracks attendance, assessments, and transitions. With all 125 learning sites now active, the program has demonstrated strong progress. Moving forward, ADLP aims to expand to 200 MicroSchools, further scaling access to inclusive, high-quality digital education across Sindh.

Aala Taleem is redefining access to global postgraduate education for Pakistani public-sector students by linking academic opportunity with community-rooted knowledge production. The initiative challenges colonial hierarchies of knowledge by preparing scholars for elite PhD programs while ensuring their research addresses Pakistan’s pressing realities, such as water injustice and urban displacement. Unlike commercial consultancy models, Aala Taleem provides personalized mentorship that integrates academic preparation with long-term scholarly development grounded in community needs. The planned Aala Taleem Admission Cohort will annually support fifty scholars in gaining admission to fully funded PhD programs through decolonized admissions training, participatory research workshops, and digital platforms amplifying Southern scholarship. Despite funding barriers, the initiative has reached over 20,000 individuals and built a strong mentor network. Aala Taleem envisions transforming postgraduate access into a pathway for epistemic justice—cultivating scholars whose work reconnects policy with community knowledge and challenges exclusionary academic systems.

Durbeen, established in 2017 under the vision “Better Teachers, Better Schools,” aims to strengthen Pakistan’s public education system by producing professionally qualified teachers through the B.Ed. (Honours) program at the Government Elementary College of Education (GECE), Hussainabad. Operating under a Public-Private Partnership with the Sindh Education & Literacy Department, University of Karachi, and Zindagi Trust, Durbeen reforms teacher education by integrating academic excellence, administrative efficiency, and practical training. Since its formal launch in 2019, Durbeen has achieved key milestones: the graduation of its first B.Ed. cohort in 2023 with 83% passing the provincial licensing exam, consistent 90%+ KPI compliance, and deployment of trained graduates in public schools. Supported by an independent auditor, education expert, and donors, the program ensures accountability through bi-annual performance reviews and digital monitoring systems. The initiative’s success has inspired the Government of Sindh to replicate this teacher education model across other colleges in the province.

Teach For Pakistan is a national nonprofit advancing educational equity and leadership development by recruiting and training outstanding graduates to teach full-time in underserved public schools for two years. Launched nationally in 2018, it partners with the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) through the Education Fellows Project, a public-private partnership designed to address acute teacher shortages in subjects like English, math, and science. Since 2021, the project has placed Fellows in Islamabad’s underserved schools, reaching over 38,500 students across four years. Internal and independent evaluations, including a RAND Corporation study, show that classrooms with Fellows close learning gaps by an average of 4.4 years, while also fostering social, emotional, and leadership development. The project leverages government funding alongside donor contributions to support recruitment, training, mentorship, and accountability mechanisms. Its success has inspired replication in Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a scalable model for improving teacher quality and educational outcomes nationwide.

The Shanakht initiative by the Network of Organizations Working for Persons with Disabilities (NOWPDP) is a nationwide program that facilitates access to official identification for persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly in underserved and rural areas of Pakistan. Launched in 2012, it helps PWDs obtain Disability Certificates (DCs) and Special CNICs (SCNICs)—essential for accessing public services, education, healthcare, and social protection. Shanakht collaborates with government bodies such as DEPD, SPDPA, NADRA, and the Health Department to streamline and decentralize the process through a hybrid model of One Window Camps, monthly interventions, and partner-led outreach. The initiative prioritizes women, low-income groups, and individuals in remote districts. Continuous monitoring, digital documentation, and feedback mechanisms ensure adaptive improvement. By reducing processing time and expanding regional access, Shanakht advances disability-inclusive identification as a sustainable, dignified, and institutionalized practice across Pakistan.

This research investigates how to make fashion education in Pakistan more accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students, who are rarely included in mainstream design programs. Inspired by mentoring a deaf student who successfully completed a fashion degree and now works professionally, the study develops inclusive strategies to help DHH students enter and excel in design education and careers. A key focus is creating specialized, visually driven teaching tools—such as pictorial guides and sign language–based content—to promote independent learning while supporting interpreter use where available. The research employs site visits, interviews, and the Coexist workshop, a four-week inclusive studio where DHH and hearing students co-created a denim collection using visual learning methods. The results highlight how inclusive, visually focused pedagogy can bridge communication gaps and foster equal creative opportunities. Ultimately, the study calls for systemic reform in fashion schools through Deaf-friendly curricula and universal design teaching tools.

In Pakistan, adults with Down syndrome often lack educational and developmental opportunities beyond childhood. To address this, the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP) launched the Education for Life (EFL) program in May 2022—a three-year initiative for individuals aged 14 and above that fosters personal growth, vocational skills, social independence, and inclusion. Based at the KDSP Learning Centre, EFL offers a full-day schedule with academics, life skills, culinary arts, and rotating vocational training in pottery, jewelry, weaving, and more. Each student follows an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), co-created with parents and reviewed every six weeks, ensuring personalized progress and parental engagement. Students complete independent vocational projects and contribute to KDSP’s brand Lehr, which has sold over 3,000 student-made products. With a 90% attendance rate and strong skill outcomes, EFL serves as a bridge to employment and self-reliance, envisioning nationwide replication to build inclusive, economically empowered futures.

Moriro Markaz is Pakistan’s first rural, one-stop solution for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Established in Sujawal through a pioneering public-private partnership between NOWPDP and the Government of Sindh, the center addresses critical inclusion gaps in a district previously devoid of any disability-specific services. Markaz provides integrated support in education, identity documentation, healthcare, vocational training, employment, and self-employment - all under one roof and within an accessible, sustainable facility. By serving over 5,000 persons with disabilities since 2020, the model demonstrates how grassroots action, institutional collaboration, and inclusive design can converge to transform marginalized communities. The intervention is now being positioned for scale across other underserved districts in Sindh.

The WANG Lab of Innovation (WALI), founded in 2021 by the Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG), is Pakistan’s first rural innovation lab based in Bela, Lasbela, Balochistan. Established to bridge the digital divide in climate-affected communities, WALI provides free digital literacy and innovation training to rural youth lacking access to technology and education. The lab offers a safe, solar-powered learning space equipped with computers, internet, and low-bandwidth resources. Programs include digital literacy, coding, problem-solving, and media creation, facilitated by culturally aware local trainers. To date, over 2,500 children and adolescents have benefited, gaining essential digital and creative skills. WALI also engages parents through awareness sessions to strengthen community ownership. Continuous monitoring ensures program quality and adaptation. Moving forward, WALI plans to expand to other districts, introduce mobile labs, and build a train-the-trainer model, presenting a replicable framework for rural innovation and inclusive, technology-driven education.

Following the 2022 floods that displaced millions in Pakistan, the Tranquil Abode project responds to the urgent need for resilient and sustainable shelter. It develops and promotes neo-vernacular bamboo construction techniques suited to rural, flood-prone communities, combining environmental responsibility with cultural relevance. Through an evidence-based framework, three bamboo housing prototypes were designed and built in Uthal (Balochistan), Jacobabad (Sindh), and Dera Ghazi Khan (Punjab). Each integrates local materials—bamboo, mud, lime, and stone—and employs participatory, climate-responsive design emphasizing self-build methods, gender-sensitive layouts, and flood-resilient features such as raised plinths and ventilated roofs. Collaboration among NGOs, universities, students, and local laborers fostered learning and community engagement. Evaluations highlighted positive outcomes in sustainability, economic empowerment, environmental impact, and social inclusion. Aligned with SDGs 8, 10, 11, 13, and 17, Tranquil Abode demonstrates how localized, low-tech innovation can drive climate adaptation and long-term resilience in Pakistan’s vulnerable rural regions.

In March 2024, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) received a grant from Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council for its project “River Landscapes: A New Glossary for Rivers as Water Landscapes of Multicultural and Multispecies Relationships.” The initiative seeks to decolonise the concept of water bodies, exploring their cultural, ecological, and historical meanings beyond capitalist and anthropocentric narratives. CAP’s team conducted fieldwork in Bhit Shah, Manchar Lake, and the Odero Lal shrine, producing a zine, oral histories, and a sonic case study rooted in local knowledge systems. A collaboration among artists and researchers from South Asia and Europe, the project engages academics, artists, activists, and riverine communities through reciprocal dialogue on ecology and decolonisation. Currently in its dissemination phase, River Landscapes will share its creative outputs through international exhibitions, workshops, and public programs, fostering global conversations on water, culture, and environmental ethics.

This intervention is a community upliftment project for the flood-affected Shikari community in Makli, Sindh, a marginalized group of hunters—mostly women and children—who lost their shelters during the 2022 floods. Implemented in collaboration with Murad Jamil (ex-chairperson, INTBAU Pakistan) and Archlore, the project aims to break the cycle of generational poverty through education, livelihood training, and health awareness. Central to the initiative is the Abdullah Shah Ashabi School, a 6,500 sq. ft., flood-proof bamboo building powered by solar energy, serving as both a school and a climate-resilient communal space. The program also includes a daily lunch plan, communal toilets, and livelihood support through a bamboo kiosk, livestock, and a donkey cart. As a result, children now read and write in three languages, while women engage in craftwork such as rilli and beadwork. The project promotes self-sufficiency, improved nutrition, and community-led management toward long-term resilience.

The Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) has enabled remote communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to generate 29 megawatts of electricity, benefiting over a million people in off-grid areas. Leveraging the region’s natural topography and water resources, SRSP has evolved community-run micro-hydropower units—once limited to household lighting—into larger, sustainable projects that power homes, schools, health facilities, and tourism. As electricity demand grew, SRSP developed the Social Enterprise Model, a system where powerhouses are managed professionally to ensure financial and social sustainability. User charges are kept affordable while maintaining long-term viability. SRSP operates such plants across Mastuj, Ayun, Kumrat, and other districts, with proven success over seven years. The model not only ensures reliable power but reinvests surplus revenue into community development. By combining local knowledge, adaptive management, and a purpose-driven approach, SRSP’s initiative demonstrates “local solutions for local problems” in Pakistan’s most marginalized and energy-deprived regions.

Pakistan Railways (PR) launched the RABTA (Railways Automated Booking and Travel Assistance) initiative to digitally modernize passenger services and improve customer experience nationwide. The platform integrates ticketing, real-time travel information, and customer support into a unified digital system, reducing reliance on manual processes and curbing corruption in ticketing. Designed to enhance accessibility, transparency, and efficiency, RABTA primarily benefits passengers—especially rural and low-income travelers—by simplifying bookings and improving trust in public transport. It also streamlines workflows for PR staff through digital integration. Developed with support from the Ministry of Railways and technology partners, RABTA includes features such as online booking, seat selection, and SMS updates, with feedback and complaint modules underway. A dedicated task force tracks performance indicators like online bookings, user satisfaction, and fraud reduction. Beyond technology, RABTA exemplifies citizen-centric public innovation, setting a precedent for inclusive and accountable digital transformation in Pakistan’s transport sector.