Page 78 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

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PTA Partners with DeafTawk to Provide Sign Language Interpretation

Services

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority media. DeafTawk, a Pakistani-founded transportation, and family interactions. The
(PTA) has signed a memorandum of social enterprise, operates a globally service is currently available in Pakistan,
understanding (MoU) with DeafTawk, a available mobile application that provides Denmark, Singapore, and Puerto Rico.
social enterprise dedicated to supporting real-time sign-language interpretation Through the partnership, DeafTawk will
deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, to services. The app connects deaf users provide “DeafTawk Plus,” an online sign
offer sign language interpretation services with qualified interpreters, facilitating language interpretation service for deaf
at PTA offices. The collaboration was communication in various scenarios such visitors at PTA offices. Additionally, PTA
announced on Thursday by state-owned as medical consultations, education, 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.

Sri Lanka to Introduce ‘GovPay’ to Digitalize Revenue Collection

‘GovPay’, the initial step in the digitalisation
of Sri Lanka’s government services, will be
officially launched on February 7, the
president’s media division said. This
“initiative will streamline and modernize
how government institutions handle
payments, enabling seamless transactions
through a secure and efficient digital
platform,” the PMD said. The facility, which
aims to modernize revenue collection
processes, will be launched by President
Anura Kumara Disanayake. GovPay will
initially integrate 16 government
institutions, then Ministry of Digital
Economy said. An additional 30 institutions
are scheduled to join in two further phases,
achieving full implementation by April
2025. This facility will enable citizens to
make payments for government services
through fintech applications or online
banking platforms.

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