4 min read
When accessibility becomes a right, not charity, the impact can transform millions of lives. That’s exactly what ConnectHear has been doing since 2017, blending AI, human empathy, and bold innovation to make communication inclusive for the deaf community in Pakistan and beyond.
In an exclusive interview with TechJuice, Arhum Ishtiaq, one of the co-founders of ConnectHear, shared powerful insights into how a personal story evolved into South Asia’s largest deaf accessibility platform.
The Story Behind ConnectHear’s Beginning
During his gap years after Intermediate, Ishtiaq was self-studying AI and Machine Learning through open courses from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At the same time, childhood friend and co-founder and CEO Azima approached him with a deeply personal mission.
Azima grew up with deaf parents and experienced firsthand the communication barriers they faced every single day. Together, they set out to build a platform that would make conversations between deaf and hearing communities seamless, dignified, and scalable.
“From day one, our goal wasn’t to build a charity—it was to build infrastructure,”Arhum told TechJuice.
Major Milestones That Redefined Accessibility
Despite coming into fruition in 2017, the big break for ConnectHear came in 2020. During that time, the startup launched South Asia’s first virtual interpretation system, enabling deaf users to connect with interpreters in under a minute. Today, it serves more than 50,000 active users.
Just this week, they unveiled SUNO, the world’s first AI system to broadcast disaster alerts in sign language over Ufone 4G, supported by GSMA. They also launched BOLO, an AI-powered sign-language learning app designed for scalable accessibility even in low-resource areas.
With over 150 partner organizations including banks, telecoms, consulates, and humanitarian agencies, ConnectHear has impacted more than half a million lives. The platform’s work has earned global honors, including the Diana Award, TRT World Citizen Award, World Summit Awards, and Pride of Pakistan.
The company, in collaboration with National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF)-Pakistan, recently launched Pakistan’s first-ever banking course exclusively for bankers with disabilities just a few days ago. You can see their announcement here:
The Services Powering ConnectHear’s Success
Ishtiaq broke down ConnectHear’s work into three primary service pillars:
- Virtual Interpretation: Real-time video calls linking deaf users with interpreters in banks, hospitals, and workplaces.
- AI Accessibility Tools: Products like SUNO and BOLO that make scalable accessibility a reality.
- Accessibility Consulting: Strategic partnerships with major institutions such as Serena Hotels, Unilever, Faysal Bank, United States Consulate General Karachi, and Punjab Police.
“The interpretation service is still our core,”Arhum explained. “But our AI tools are now scaling fast, bringing accessibility to communities that were never reached before.”
Challenges: Breaking Through Perception and Policy Walls
Ishtiaq didn’t shy away from addressing the tough parts of the journey.
“The hardest part wasn’t technology—it was perception,” he said. “Accessibility was treated like charity, not infrastructure.”
Pakistan also lacked standardized datasets or national policies for Pakistani Sign Language, forcing ConnectHear to build from scratch. Policy inertia remains a hurdle, with deaf citizens still facing basic rights barriers in education and licensing.
“But the shift is happening,” he added. “Organizations now see inclusion as a strategic investment. We’ve gone from being an afterthought to being in the boardroom.”
A Message Ahead of World Mental Health Day
With World Mental Health Day around the corner, Ishtiaq, who is a CTO at ConnectHear, shared a poignant reminder:
“For many deaf people, mental health struggles don’t come from hearing loss itself but from isolation—being shut out of everyday conversations. Accessibility isn’t just technical. It’s emotional. Every interpreter, caption, and sign-language video tells someone they matter. Inclusion is healing.”
By pairing local innovation with global recognition, the company is reshaping how accessibility works in Pakistan. It’s a model that blends empathy with cutting-edge technology, a blueprint other emerging markets can follow.
“Inclusion isn’t a favor,” Ishtiaq concluded. “It’s the future.”
