Device created by deaf man allows Sindh's hearing impaired to drive

Mansoor Abdul Majeed shows his driver’s license to Arab News on December 6, 2019. (AN photo)
Updated 08 December 2019
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Device created by deaf man allows Sindh's hearing impaired to drive

  • Sindh administration on Tuesday issued licenses to four individuals, including two females, who suffer from hearing impairment
  • Irfan Sharif invented a Traffic Surrounding Notifier device, paving the way for issuance of licenses to his community members

KARACHI: In a first, four people with hearing impairment got their driver’s licenses in Pakistan from the chief minister of Sindh province on Tuesday.

“The provincial administration of Sindh deserves the credit for this, especially its Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) that made us the first Pakistanis to secure our legal right to drive,” 42-year-old Mansoor Abdul Majeed, who works at a local factory and received his license from the chief minister, told Arab News on Friday.

However, he pointed out it was not an easy task to reach this stage, adding that his community members had to invent a Traffic Surrounding Notifier (TSN) system to convince the authorities.




Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presents driver’s license to Mansoor Abdul Majeed, a person with hearing impairment, at the CM House in Karachi on December 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of CM House, Karachi)

“I was fighting for this right for several years,” he said. “The traffic police told us that we could not drive since we could not hear anything. After getting disappointed by the license branch, I discussed the idea with my friend, Irfan Sharif, who invented the device which we used to convince the authorities.”

“When demonstrated, the DIG of traffic police was surprised,” said Majeed, who also founded a community group, Media Deaf Karachi (MDK), to resolve the problems of his community members.




 In this undated image, Irfan Sharif, who suffers from hearing impairment, can be seen working on the Traffic Surrounding Notifier (TSN) device which made it easier for the authorities to issue driver’s licenses to people suffering from hearing impairment. (Photo supplied)


Sharif, a school teacher and part-time programmer who was born with hearing impairment, started working on the idea of developing a device that could help fulfill the legal requirements of driver’s license in 2017.

He found a gadget that vibrated and flashed when his baby cried and decided to turn it in the traffic surrounding notifier system.




The light of the Traffic Surrounding Notifier system blinks on the dashboard of Mansoor Abdul Majeed’s car on December 6, 2019. (AN photo)


“Whenever there is any sound signal, such as a horn or an ambulance siren, a light blinks on the dashboard of the car or motorbike and the driver can look into the rearview or side mirrors and act accordingly.”

A non-governmental organization, named Danish Kada, and Zaigham M. Rizvi extended the financial help to install the device in 25 cars, he said.

According to the World Health Organization, Pakistan has a population of 30 million people with disabilities. However, there are no official statistics available on the subject.

The 1998 census claimed that differently abled people constituted about 2.49 percent of the country’s population. In the 2017 census, that number was said to be 0.48 percent.

“Not only the persons with disability took it as a joke, but the Supreme Court, which has been hearing a constitutional petition, called the census count flawed and ordered a fresh survey of 300,000 households across Pakistan to estimate the number of persons with disabilities,” Ghulam Nabi Nizamani, director of the DEPD, told Arab News.




Mansoor Abdul Majeed is pointing toward a sticker on his vehicle in Karachi on December 6, 2019, indicating that it is driven by a person with hearing impairment. (AN photo)

The survey is yet to be conducted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told Arab News that his administration was doing its best to educate people with physical impairments, adding it had converted schools of special children into rehabilitation centers.

“I have allocated five percent quota for differently abled persons in government service,” he said. “This is the reason that our government has created a separate full-fledged department so that differently abled people can be empowered.”

Meanwhile, people with hearing impairment are excited about the new development.




(Left to right) Farah Mughal, Mansoor Abdul Majeed, Ali Akber Noonari and Farah Naz can be seen in a group photo with Ghulam Nabi Nizamani, director of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, after obtaining their driver’s licenses at the Chief Minister House in Karachi on December 3, 2019. Nizamani, who works with the Sindh administration, is also a differently abled individual. (Photo supplied)

“We have been driving cars for years. But now we will be driving them legally. The development will help us reduce our dependence on others,” Majeed said, urging the traffic police to issue licenses for motorcycles as well since that would benefit a large segment of his community members.

“We are not inferior to anyone,” he said. “We need our due rights. I am happy that we live in a province which realizes its responsibility toward the differently abled people.”


Pakistan coach says ‘match-winning’ fast bowlers key in India clash

Updated 22 February 2025
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Pakistan coach says ‘match-winning’ fast bowlers key in India clash

  • Pakistan need to win the blockbuster showdown with India in Dubai to advance in the tournament
  • The team’s top three fast bowlers leaked 214 runs against New Zealand, helping the total of 320 runs

DUBAI: Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed on Saturday said his fast bowlers are “match-winners” and will pull out something special against arch-rivals India in their pivotal Champions Trophy clash.
Hosts and defending champions Pakistan need to win the blockbuster showdown with India on Sunday in Dubai to keep their chances of making the semifinals in their own hands.
Pakistan lost the opening match of the 50-over tournament to New Zealand and are bottom of Group A. India beat Bangladesh in their first match.
Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf leaked 214 runs in their 30 overs combined in New Zealand’s total of 320.
But Aaqib said the trio will rise to the occasion.
“We have three specialists and I would say one of the best pace bowling options in today’s game with Shaheen, Naseem and Haris,” Aaqib told reporters.
The former seam bowler said the current attack reminds him of that from the 1990s, when Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Aaqib stepped up after the retirement of the great Imran Khan.
“They still have time to reach that level, but they have all the ability to repeat those sort of performances,” said Aaqib.
“When you play against India it is a special feeling and I think they will bring something special tomorrow.”
He added: “Our fast bowling options are good and they are match-winners.”
Bilateral cricket ties are frozen between the two rival nations due to political tensions and they only play each other in multi-nation events.
India refused to tour Pakistan for this eight-nation tournament and will play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium, which is expected to be full for the high-profile game.
Pakistan, who hammered India in the last Champions Trophy final in 2017, have flown in from Karachi for their must-win clash and Aaqib says pressure produces champions.
“There is no game you play without pressure,” said Aaqib. “Between India and Pakistan it doesn’t matter it’s a knock-out or whatever. It is beyond the game.”
Aaqib said: “If you look at the positive, it’s the best time and best chance for any individual or a team to make a mark. Passion and pressure is what a player needs to showcase his game.”
The top two teams from each of the two groups make the semifinals.
The rivals last met in a one-day game at the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, with hosts India winning by seven wickets.


Pakistan’s finance chief warns of crackdown on hoarding to control Ramadan food prices

Updated 22 February 2025
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Pakistan’s finance chief warns of crackdown on hoarding to control Ramadan food prices

  • Aurangzeb says prices of sugar and oil are rising domestically while their international rates are declining
  • Food prices in Pakistan rise in Ramadan due to increased demand, supply chain inefficiencies and hoarding

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Saturday the government would take strict action against people involved in hoarding, whose actions drive up the cost of essential food commodities every year during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The minister made the comment while addressing the business community in Faisalabad, a major industrial hub of the country, assuring them that the national economy was moving in the right direction after undergoing a prolonged crisis.
He maintained a reduction in the policy rate, along with steps that have improved macroeconomic indicators, including an overall decrease in inflation, had benefited business owners.
Aurangzeb said all the hard work done on the economy should ultimately benefit the common citizen, adding it was important for that purpose to keep the prices of essential items from spiraling unnecessarily.
“We monitor commodity prices very closely during the ECC meetings,” he said, referring to the Economic Coordination Committee, a principal federal institution responsible for key economic decisions. “We observed a few weeks ago that domestic prices of sugar, ghee and oil were rising even as their international prices were declining.”
“In anticipation of Ramzan, we start getting into this hoarding mentality, which is most unfortunate,” he continued. “We will take very, very strict action against these elements.”
The minister warned the government would take all necessary administrative steps to “prevent the arbitrage” during the holy month.
Food prices in Pakistan often rise in Ramadan due to several factors, including increased demand and supply chain inefficiencies. However, a major issue is hoarding and speculative pricing by traders, which artificially inflates prices to maximize profits during the holy month.
Aurangzeb said this would not be tolerated, adding that sugar and other essential item prices would be strictly controlled as Ramadan approaches in the coming days.


IMF commends Pakistan’s governance and anti-corruption reform efforts, plans follow-up visit

Updated 22 February 2025
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IMF commends Pakistan’s governance and anti-corruption reform efforts, plans follow-up visit

  • A three-member IMF mission performed initial assessment during a visit to Pakistan from Feb. 6 to 14
  • The team evaluated six critical areas, including fiscal and central bank governance, rule of law in Pakistan

KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has applauded Pakistan’s commitment to conducting external governance and corruption evaluation to strengthen its systems, according to a statement this week, adding its assessment team, which recently concluded its visit to the country, will return later this year.
A three-member IMF mission carried out the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCD) in Pakistan from February 6 to 14 under the $7 billion loan program secured in September 2024.
According to Pakistan’s finance ministry, it will prepare a report recommending actions to address corruption vulnerabilities and strengthen integrity and governance, adding that its findings will help shape structural reforms.
The IMF said the team had done the “groundwork” for the assessment at the request of Pakistani authorities, surveying several critical areas.
“The IMF appreciates the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to this exercise and looks forward to continuing our collaboration,” the international lending agency said on its website in a statement prepared on February 18.
“The IMF team for the GCD assessment will return to Pakistan later this year to continue gathering information and exploring opportunities to strengthen governance, integrity, and economic outcomes in preparation for the eventual assessment,” it added.
The statement said the visiting team’s focus was to preliminarily assess governance and corruption vulnerabilities across six core state functions, including fiscal and central bank governance and operations, financial sector oversight, market regulation, rule of law and anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML-CFT).
During its mission, the IMF team engaged with the Finance Division, Federal Board of Revenue, State Bank of Pakistan, Auditor General of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ministry of Law and Justice and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Additionally, its members met with a range of other stakeholders, including business associations, civil society organizations and international development partners.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also wrote to the team, raising grievances related to the last general elections, which it claims were rigged, and concerns about the judiciary.


PTCL lands Africa-1 submarine cable in Karachi, enhancing connectivity with Saudi Arabia, other countries

Updated 22 February 2025
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PTCL lands Africa-1 submarine cable in Karachi, enhancing connectivity with Saudi Arabia, other countries

  • Development comes amid increasing demand for reliable Internet services in Pakistan
  • The Africa-1 cable offers a consortium-backed ultra-high-capacity connectivity system

KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has brought the Africa-1 submarine cable ashore at its landing station in Karachi, it announced in a statement on Saturday, enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with Saudi Arabia and other global digital hubs.
The 10,000-kilometer Africa-1 cable, a consortium-backed ultra-high-capacity system, aims to bolster international bandwidth and support Pakistan’s growing digital infrastructure.
The system will link the country with key locations in the Middle East and beyond, including countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, France, Kenya and Djibouti.
“PTCL is proud to be a part of the Africa-1 cable system consortium. This partnership aligns seamlessly with Pakistan’s Digital Vision 2030 and our commitment to empowering the communities by bridging the digital divide,” said Syed Muhammad Shoaib, Group Vice President of International Business at PTCL.
“By establishing strong, reliable connections to key international hubs, PTCL aims to provide faster, world-class Internet services enabling innovation across sectors and strengthening Pakistan’s position in the global economy,” he added.
The consortium includes major regional telecom operators such as Saudi Arabia’s Mobily, UAE’s e& and G42, Telecom Egypt, Zain Oman International (ZOI), Algérie Télécom and TeleYemen. The system employs state-of-the-art technologies to enhance data transmission speeds and reliability.
The cable’s landing in Karachi is expected to further strengthen Pakistan’s role as a regional digital hub. It will be terminated at PTCL’s Misrishah Exchange in DHA Phase-VI, Karachi.
Once operational in early 2026, the Africa-1 system is expected to significantly enhance PTCL’s Internet services and support the country’s economic growth by providing improved global connectivity.
The development comes amid increasing demand for reliable high-speed Internet services in Pakistan, driven by digital transformation efforts across sectors including finance, e-commerce and information technology.


Pakistan NGO chief critical of last general elections has home sealed

Updated 22 February 2025
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Pakistan NGO chief critical of last general elections has home sealed

  • Pattan chief Sarwar Bari says his Islamabad residence was sealed in response to a recent election assessment
  • Authorities maintain Pattan’s registration as an NGO had been canceled in 2019 and it was operating illegally

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan authorities have sealed the home of an NGO chief who authored a report alleging widespread rigging in national elections last year, he told AFP on Saturday.
Polls in February 2024 took place with the nation’s most popular politician Imran Khan jailed and barred from running, and a coalition of parties considered pliable to the powerful military took power.
This month, NGO Pattan published a report on the elections and described them in a statement as “unprecedentedly rigged” with “vote-rigging, fraud and manipulation.”
Pattan chief Sarwar Bari — currently in London — said his home in the capital Islamabad was sealed off on Friday night.
“This is obviously in response to the report,” he told AFP.
His wife Aliya Bano said the property was closed off by a team of around two dozen including police officers, magistrates and Islamabad administration officials.
A judge’s order to seal the residence, seen by AFP, said Pattan’s registration as an NGO had been canceled in 2019 and it was operating illegally.
Bari said he often used his residence for Pattan meetings and postal correspondence but was adamant it was primarily his home.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement on social media platform X that it was “alarmed” by reports his home had been sealed.
“Such tactics of intimidation against citizens are unacceptable,” the statement said. “The matter should be heard immediately in a court of law.”
Pattan has called for a public inquiry into the national elections which took place on February 8, 2024.
Ahead of the vote ex-prime minister Khan’s party was targeted by a sweeping crackdown, which saw numerous senior leaders arrested and their street campaigning disrupted.
Days before the poll, Khan was convicted of a trio of offenses including graft, treason and illegal marriage.
Polling day itself was marred by a mobile Internet blackout, which Islamabad said was necessary to address security concerns.
Social media platform X has been banned since soon after the polls, when it was used to air rigging allegations.
Despite the setbacks, candidates loyal to Khan won more seats than any other party but a coalition led by two former rival parties considered allies of the military shut them out of power.
Pakistan’s military has directly ruled the country for decades at a time and continues to wield immense power in civilian politics, analysts say.