In a landmark step toward inclusive technology and digital accessibility, ConnectHear, Pakistan’s leading social enterprise for disability inclusion, in collaboration with Ufone 4G (a part of PTCL Group), has unveiled SUNO, the world’s first AI-based Early Warning System designed to deliver real-time emergency alerts in sign language for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
The system, supported and funded by the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Fund, addresses one of the most pressing gaps in emergency communication — ensuring that Deaf individuals receive life-saving alerts during natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. For the first time, technology is bridging a critical accessibility divide that has historically excluded this community from timely disaster information.
Through SUNO, AI-powered sign language video alerts are generated and instantly distributed via Ufone’s WhatsApp bot, reaching at-risk individuals across Pakistan free of cost. ConnectHear uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence to produce sign language content, while Ufone provides the nationwide network infrastructure to ensure reliable and rapid dissemination. This collaboration demonstrates how inclusive design and mobile technology can work hand in hand to safeguard vulnerable communities.
Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL & Ufone 4G, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to purpose-driven innovation under its Dil Se platform. “Our collaboration with ConnectHear reflects our belief that true digital inclusion leaves no one behind. Through our partner ConnectHear, we are using technology with purpose to create impact that truly matters,” he said.
Azima Dhanjee, Co-founder of ConnectHear, shared the deeply personal motivation behind the project. “In an emergency, communication isn’t just important — it’s a matter of life and death. For far too long, Deaf individuals, including my parents, have been cut off from urgent alerts. With this project, we’re finally changing that. Accessibility is not a privilege; it’s a fundamental human necessity to survive during any emergency,” she stated, expressing gratitude to Ufone 4G for its partnership in making SUNO a reality.
Kimberly Brown, Head of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation at GSMA, highlighted the global significance of the initiative. “Inclusive innovation is key to ensuring that mobile technology delivers meaningful impact where it’s needed most. Through the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges, we are proud to back ConnectHear’s AI-powered platform, which brings life-saving information to Deaf communities in Pakistan,” she said. She added that by leveraging mobile voice services and low-bandwidth tools, the project exemplifies how technology can break barriers in disaster preparedness and empower those historically excluded from emergency systems.
The launch event, held in Islamabad, demonstrated the system’s real-time functionality and impact potential. SUNO marks a transformative moment in Pakistan’s journey toward inclusive digital transformation, setting a new global benchmark for how AI can enhance humanitarian response and accessibility.
By combining social innovation, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications infrastructure, ConnectHear, Ufone 4G, and GSMA have paved the way for a safer, more inclusive society — ensuring that during times of crisis, every citizen, regardless of ability, has access to critical information when it matters most
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