Federal Minister for Federal Education & Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, addressed the National Consultation on the Standardization of Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) today, terming it a historic milestone toward ensuring the full recognition and inclusion of Deaf Pakistanis in national life.
Welcoming distinguished guests, provincial representatives, academia, civil society, UNICEF, media, and members of the Deaf community, the Minister emphasized that “Sign Language is not only a means of communication; it is a language of rights, culture, and identity.”
He noted that the absence of a standardized PSL has long limited access to education, employment, justice, and public services for Deaf citizens. The consultation, he added, lays the foundation for a national framework that will:
Enable unified curriculum development and interpreter certification,
Ensure consistent use across schools, media, and government services, and
Affirm the linguistic and cultural identity of the Deaf community.
Dr. Siddiqui commended the Ministry team, UNICEF, and Deaf leaders for driving this initiative with authenticity and ownership. He highlighted the ongoing transformation of the Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE), which has been under the Ministry’s administrative control since July 2024. He noted that DGSE reforms—led by Federal Secretary Mr. Nadeem Mahbub and Director General Capt. (Retd.) Asif Iqbal Asif—are reshaping the landscape of special education.
Key achievements include:
Nutrition & Wellbeing: Launch of a meal programme for children with disabilities.
Enrolment Drive: Over 300 new children enrolled, raising DGSE’s total to 2,000 students.
Human Resource Development: New training and leadership initiatives for special educators.
Autism Support Facilities: Establishment of four state-of-the-art sensory rooms.
Rehabilitation Services: Modernization of Orthopaedic, Speech Therapy, and Physiotherapy facilities.
Support for Visual Impairment: Distribution of over 1,000 digital talking books.
Vocational Training: Market-driven skills in partnership with the private sector.
Community Outreach: Empowerment camps to identify and enroll out-of-school children with disabilities.
Human Resource Reforms: Amendments to service rules for career development of professionals.
Among these reforms, the Minister highlighted PSL standardization as the flagship initiative. “Language is the key to learning, empowerment, and identity,” he remarked. He announced the establishment of a National PSL Task Force to implement recommendations with clear timelines, interpreter training, and digital resources.
Dr. Siddiqui reiterated the government’s commitment to integrating PSL into school curricula, media platforms, and public services, making it a recognized language of inclusion.
“This consultation is more than a policy dialogue—it is a collective pledge to build a Pakistan where every child, every citizen, hearing or Deaf, has a language, a voice, and a future full of possibility,” he stated.
The Minister thanked UNICEF, the Deaf community, provincial governments, and the DGSE team for their partnership and dedication. “Together, we will ensure that Pakistan Sign Language becomes a bridge to equality and dignity for all, Insha’Allah.”
