The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DeafTawk, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, to offer sign language interpretation services at PTA offices. The collaboration was announced on Thursday by state-owned media.
DeafTawk, a Pakistani-founded social enterprise, operates a globally available mobile application that provides real-time sign-language interpretation services. The app connects deaf users with qualified interpreters, facilitating communication in various scenarios such as medical consultations, education, transportation, and family interactions. The service is currently available in Pakistan, Denmark, Singapore, and Puerto Rico.
Through the partnership, DeafTawk will provide “DeafTawk Plus,” an online sign language interpretation service for deaf visitors at PTA offices. Additionally, PTA plans to integrate AI-powered text-to-sign and speech-to-sign tools into its digital platforms, alongside conducting annual accessibility audits to ensure continuous improvement in services.
The initiative aims to address the communication challenges faced by over ten million deaf individuals in Pakistan, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
DeafTawk was founded in 2018 by Wamiq Hassan, Pakistan’s first deaf software engineer, who developed the app to overcome communication barriers faced by the hearing impaired in Pakistan. Hassan highlighted the importance of creating solutions that bridge the gap and enhance accessibility for the deaf community.
