ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ConnectHear, a social enterprise promoting disability inclusion, in collaboration with a telecom giant, on Wednesday launched an artificial intelligence-powered early warning system designed to deliver life-saving alerts in sign language to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

The system, called SUNO — meaning “listen” in Urdu — is funded by the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Fund and aims to close a critical gap in disaster communication by ensuring deaf individuals receive real-time alerts during emergencies such as floods and earthquakes.

Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing recurring floods, earthquakes and heatwaves that endanger millions each year. More than 1,700 people were killed in the catastrophic 2022 floods, which submerged a third of the country and displaced over 8 million others, according to official figures. Floods this year have killed over 1,000 people and displaced millions. 

In such crises, emergency warnings can mean the difference between life and death, yet people with disabilities are often excluded from mainstream alert systems. Initiatives like SUNO aim to bridge that gap, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of ability, can receive timely, life-saving information during disasters.

Estimates for the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Pakistan vary, with the World Health Organization (WHO) citing approximately 10 million people. 

“Our collaboration with ConnectHear reflects our belief that true digital inclusion leaves no one behind,” said Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL and Ufone 4G. “Through our partner ConnectHear, we are using technology with purpose to create impact that truly matters.”

Through SUNO, sign language video alerts are instantly broadcast via telecom company Ufone’s WhatsApp bot, reaching at-risk individuals across Pakistan free of charge. ConnectHear produces the sign language content using AI technology, while Ufone provides nationwide network distribution.

Azima Dhanjee, Co-founder of ConnectHear, whose parents are both deaf, said the initiative addresses a long-standing exclusion in emergency communication.

“In an emergency, communication isn’t just important, it’s a matter of life and death,” she said at the launch event. 

“For far too long, deaf individuals have been cut off from urgent alerts and forced to rely on others during disasters. With this project, we’re finally changing that.”

Kimberly Brown, Head of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation at GSMA, said the initiative demonstrates how inclusive technology can save lives.

“Through the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, we are proud to back ConnectHear’s AI-powered platform, which brings life-saving information to deaf communities in Pakistan,” she said. 

“By harnessing mobile voice services and low-bandwidth tools, this initiative shows how mobile can break barriers in disaster preparedness.”