ConnectHear, a Pakistan-based social enterprise promoting disability inclusion, has launched an artificial intelligence-powered early warning system in partnership with a telecom company to provide life-saving alerts in sign language to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, marks a significant milestone in making disaster communication more inclusive across Pakistan.
The system, named SUNO — meaning “listen” in Urdu — has been developed with support from the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Fund. It is designed to bridge a long-standing communication gap during natural disasters by delivering real-time alerts in Pakistan Sign Language to individuals who are often excluded from traditional emergency notifications. With Pakistan facing recurring floods, earthquakes, and heatwaves, the launch of SUNO aims to ensure that no community remains disconnected during times of crisis.
According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 10 million deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Pakistan. Many of them struggle to receive timely warnings during emergencies, where access to information can be the difference between safety and danger. The SUNO platform leverages artificial intelligence to produce sign language video alerts, which are then distributed instantly via Ufone’s WhatsApp bot. The alerts are sent free of charge, ensuring accessibility regardless of users’ financial or geographic constraints. This partnership combines ConnectHear’s expertise in accessibility-focused technology with Ufone’s nationwide telecom network, allowing for broad and rapid dissemination of critical alerts.
Speaking at the launch event, Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL and Ufone 4G, emphasized the company’s commitment to using technology for social impact. He said the partnership with ConnectHear reflects a shared vision of digital inclusion, where every citizen benefits from the country’s growing connectivity infrastructure. “Through our partner ConnectHear, we are using technology with purpose to create impact that truly matters,” he stated. Azima Dhanjee, Co-founder of ConnectHear, shared that the initiative carries a deeply personal significance for her, as both her parents are deaf. She highlighted that the project represents a turning point for the deaf community in Pakistan, offering them independence and safety during emergencies.
The project also received recognition from global humanitarian and innovation circles. Kimberly Brown, Head of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation at GSMA, said the initiative demonstrates how technology can be used to advance inclusion and save lives. She noted that SUNO, supported through the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges and backed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, showcases how AI and mobile networks can create accessible, low-bandwidth tools that enhance disaster preparedness. The collaboration stands as a model for inclusive technology in developing nations, proving that digital transformation is most effective when it benefits all citizens equally.
By integrating sign language-based AI communication into Pakistan’s national telecom framework, SUNO is setting a new precedent for inclusive disaster response. It represents how innovation, when combined with empathy and accessibility, can make technology truly transformative for those most in need.
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