Islamabad: Every year, hundreds of thousands of deaf and hard-of-hearing Pakistanis face the terrifying silence of emergencies as they are unable to hear sirens, announcements, or radio warnings when earthquakes, floods, or other disasters strike but now, a first-of-its-kind innovation aims to end that isolation, experts said on Wednesday.
On the 20th anniversary of the 2005 earthquake, Pakistan’s social enterprise ConnectHear, in partnership with Ufone 4G, launched ‘SUNO’, the world’s first AI-based early warning system that delivers life-saving alerts in Pakistan Sign Language.
Supported by the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Fund, the system ensures Deaf individuals receive real-time notifications during natural and man-made disasters through Ufone’s WhatsApp bot, free of cost.
The technology uses artificial intelligence to instantly translate emergency alerts into sign language videos, which are then broadcast across Ufone’s network to reach at-risk users nationwide.
Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL and Ufone 4G, said the collaboration reflects their mission to harness technology for social good under the company’s ‘Dil Se’ platform. “Our partnership with ConnectHear is built on the belief that true digital inclusion leaves no one behind. Through this initiative, we’re using technology with purpose to create impact that truly matters,” he said.
Azima Dhanjee, Co-founder of ConnectHear, whose parents are Deaf, said the project addresses a life-and-death communication gap. “In an emergency, communication isn’t just important—it’s survival. Deaf individuals have long been excluded from urgent alerts, relying on others for help. With this system, we are changing that reality,” she said, thanking Ufone 4G for helping make accessibility a national priority.
Kimberly Brown, Head of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation at GSMA, said the project demonstrates how inclusive innovation can save lives. “Through the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, we are proud to back ConnectHear’s AI-powered platform, which delivers critical information to Deaf communities in Pakistan,” she said.
At the launch event in Islamabad, ConnectHear demonstrated how the SUNO system translates disaster alerts into sign language videos within seconds, showing how mobile technology and social innovation can protect even the most vulnerable citizens.
With this launch, Pakistan has set a global precedent—proving that when inclusion drives innovation, no one needs to be left behind in a moment of crisis.
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