"Nothing about us without us" — ہمارے بغیر ہمارے متعلق کچھ نہیں
Established in the aftermath of the devastating October 8, 2005 Kashmir earthquake, FORD empowers people with disabilities across Bagh and Azad Jammu & Kashmir through comprehensive medical rehabilitation, psycho-social counseling, vocational training, and barrier-free civic inclusion.
Dhulli Road Near Turkish Mosque, Bagh, Azad Kashmir 12500
+92 (301) 535-0411
info@ford.org.pk
24/7 dedicated medical transport covering remote mountainous Bagh.
Founder & President • Spinal Cord Injury Survivor
On October 8, 2005, a catastrophic 7.6 magnitude earthquake shattered northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, claiming over 80,000 lives and leaving thousands of survivors with irreversible spinal cord injuries and amputations.
During prolonged medical rehabilitation at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) and AFIRM in Islamabad, survivor Aqeel Haider Banday gathered fellow survivors to form FORD. Instead of being passive recipients of aid, they decided that persons with disabilities must lead their own rehabilitation, voice their own priorities, and build an inclusive Azad Kashmir.
From emergency response to lifelong economic independence, we deliver end-to-end holistic support programs.
Preventative, curative, and assistive physical therapy
Comprehensive preventative, curative, and assistive health services for physically challenged individuals, including physiotherapy, assistive device fitting, and long-term mobility rehabilitation.
Peer psycho-social guidance and adjustment support
Peer counseling and psycho-social guidance designed to assist newly disabled individuals and their families in rebuilding self-esteem, overcoming depression, and adapting to life with dignity.
Economic independence through high-demand skills
Structured vocational training programs covering computer applications, tailoring, digital skills, and cottage crafts to provide persons with disabilities sustainable financial independence.
Organizing grassroots civic leaders and local councils
Mobilizing village development councils, union council representatives, parents, and community leaders to eliminate social stigma and build inclusive rural environments.
Consolidating resources and championing civic inclusion
Partnering with national and international DPOs, public authorities, and humanitarian networks to ensure disabled individuals actively participate in cultural, sports, and civic life.
24/7 dedicated medical transport across rugged terrain
Round-the-clock emergency medical transportation providing critical transfers from steep mountainous villages in District Bagh to district and tertiary hospitals.
We believe sustainable social and economic development is impossible if individuals with disabilities are left behind. In Azad Kashmir, we are actively reshaping environments so that ability is recognized and celebrated.
Read Our 7 Core Objectives
Community Outreach
Grassroots mobilization in Union Council Mallot educating local community elders, teachers, and religious leaders on disability inclusion, accessibility, and removing social taboos.
Sports & Advocacy
Over 100 wheelchair athletes and advocates gathered in Bagh under the banner 'Build a Ramp' to champion barrier-free public infrastructure across Azad Kashmir.
Healthcare Infrastructure
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) officially hands over an emergency ambulance to FORD to bolster emergency medical transport across mountainous Bagh.
Assistive Technology
Custom active wheelchairs and specialized cushions distributed to dozens of low-income paraplegics and mobility-impaired residents across District Bagh.
"A single drop of water does not make an ocean. Yet without each drop no ocean would exist. The strength of a society is in its members, its unity, and its ability to join others together as a whole to carry a strong moral message."
— Forum of Rehabilitation for the Disabled (FORD)
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