09/10/2025
ConnectHear & Ufone 4G Launch World’s First AI-Based Early Warning System for the Deaf Community.
Islamabad - October 8, 2025: ConnectHear, Pakistan’s leading social enterprise working for disability inclusion in the country using technology, in collaboration with Ufone 4G (part of the PTCL Group) today unveiled first of its kind AI-powered Early Warning System ‘SUNO’ designed to deliver life-saving alerts in sign language for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
SUNO, supported and funded by GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Fund, addresses a critical gap in emergency communication, ensuring that Deaf individuals receive timely alerts during natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Through the system, sign language video alerts are instantly broadcast via Ufone’s WhatsApp bot, reaching at-risk individuals across Pakistan free of cost. ConnectHear creates the sign language content using state-of-the-art AI-powered technology, while Ufone provides the robust nationwide distribution infrastructure.
Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone 4G, reaffirmed his commitment under the ‘Dil Se’ platform to harnessing technology for social good, saying, “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.”
Speaking at the launch, Azima Dhanjee, Co-founder of ConnectHear, said: “In an emergency, communication isn't just important, it's a matter of life and death. For far too long, Deaf individuals which also includes my parents have been cut off from urgent alerts, and they must rely on others during a disaster. With this project, we're finally changing that. Today’s demonstration proves that accessibility is not a privilege, but it’s a fundamental human necessity to survive during any emergency. We are deeply grateful to Ufone 4G for its partnership and commitment to mak
