Historical Background

Sir Syed Deaf Association was founded in 1986 by Mr. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi. It was inspired by the efforts of his uncle, Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed, who is very well-known in Pakistan as the founder and producer of ‘Boltay Haath-Isharon kee Zabaan’ (Talking Hands); the first television program on sign language in Pakistan which aired in the 1980s. Boltay Haath, which starred Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed and his daughters teaching sign language on TV, was the first time that televised programming became available specifically for hearing and speech-impaired individuals and helped raise awareness about Pakistani sign language.

As part of Mr. Iftikhar’s tireless efforts to serve the hearing and speech-impaired community of Pakistan, he invited Mr. Zaigham Rizvi as a Chief Guest to an event. That was the first time Mr. Zaigham Rizvi realized the essential need for a platform where the deaf community of Pakistan could socialize, network, learn and grow. That realization planted the seed that eventually became Sir Syed Deaf Association (SDA) which has been fulfilling this need since then.

Evolution of SDA

SDA started in Islamabad (where Mr. Zaigham Rizvi was based at the time) and became the very first social club for the deaf community in Pakistan providing a platform for social, sports, and entertainment events in Islamabad. What started as a one-room social club in a rented space in Islamabad, now boasts members across Pakistan of which 1/3rd are female members and 33% have been members of SDA for 10 years and more. Plans are already underway to open SDA offices in other major cities of Pakistan.

Accomplishments over the years

Funded a computer training center. SDA’s Computer Literacy Center provided computers and trainings to the deaf community in Islamabad to increase computer literacy and increase employment opportunities.

As a next step, students from SDA’s Computer Literacy Center were hired in various organizations. Mr. Zaigham Rizvi himself led the charge and hired the first deaf employees within Saudi Pak and other banks across Islamabad.

Publishing the first book on computer terminology in sign language; the first of its kind and at a time when computers and internet awareness was still developing in Pakistan.

Transportation to enable hearing and speech impaired women and girls to attend events at SDA

Publishing the first ever book on Pakistani sign language.

Art classes including painting, flower-making, bead-work etc.

Supported the development and promotion of a digital platform of Brail in Urdu – Boltay Haroof.

Deaf Cricket Team which is registered in Pakistan Cricket Board. Pak Deaf Cricket Association (PDCA) year 2005.

Provision of solar panels to various NGOs in Pakistan to help to help make them sustainable and reduce their operational costs.

Worked with other organizations to pass a law requiring 2% of employment quota for disabled community. Mr. Zaigham Rizvi followed up with the Department of Special Education to ensure implementation of this policy which lead to the State Bank and other ministries mandating the implementation of this policy.

SDA and Mr. Zaigham Rizvi championed the cause of convincing a major political party of Pakistan to introduce a policy specifically addressing the special needs community of Pakistan. This became the first time in the history of politics in Pakistan whereby the public policy developed by SDA and other like-minded organizations, became a part of a political party’s political mandate.

Developed the People with Disabilities Network; a portal and community that enables people with disabilities to search for information on events, resources, opportunities, trainings and jobs.

Present

In 2025, Mr. Zaigham Rizvi has passed the banner and appointed Mr. Nauman Ilias as the Vice Chairman of SDA, responsible for scaling up the activities of SDA and making it a sustainable platform for the hearing and speech impaired community. In order to inform this next phase of SDA, Mr. Ilias planned and executed a needs assessment survey. Three essential needs were identified by the community in the survey: social; vocational; and sports. SDA is therefore now focusing on enhancing activities for the members in these three areas.

Future

Specifically for vocational needs, SDA is working with the business community of Pakistan to help identify the skills and trainings that would be needed to find employment. The end goal would be to sponsor these trainings for the community and helping place them in roles with organizations across Pakistan. The goal of SDA is to establish social clubs for the hearing and speech-impaired in all major cities in Pakistan. Through these clubs, SDA hopes to continue providing a platform for:
• individuals and families to socially interact.
• organize regular sporting events including women only tournaments.
• organize social activities and events.
• continue to solicit feedback from the community so we can continue to address their needs and requirements.

Meet The Team

Directors

Zaigham Rizvi

Founder & Chairman

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Nauman Ilias

Vice Chairman

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Dr. Talat Rizvi

Director

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Ghazanfar Shah

Director

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Management Team

Muhammad Zameer

President

Hammad Rasool

General Secretary

Muhammad Shoaib

Finance Secretary

Abdullah

Office Manager

Muhammad Ehsan

Liaison Officer

Muhammad Ehsan

Liaison Officer

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Mrs. Maryam Mumtaz

Female Representative

Mrs. Rehana Zahid

Female Representative

Social Media Managers

Zaki Ilias

Social Media Manager

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Sophia Shah

Social Media Manager

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Azlan Shah

Social Media Manager

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Other SDA Projects

SDA has initiated many other projects targeted for the wellbeing of the disabled and impoverished community of Pakistan. Some of our current projects are noted below:

People with Disabilities Network:

Partnering up with Sarwat Shah and Raunaq Lakhani , SDA and Mr. Rizvi operate this network that enables people with disabilities to search for information on events, resources, opportunities, trainings and jobs related to them while simultaneously allowing companies and institutions working for, and with, people with disabilities to post their information and make it more accessible.

Solar Panels:

Through its commitment to clean energy and sustainable living, SDA actively empowers communities by donating solar panels to its members and partner NGOs across Pakistan—helping them cut costs, reduce reliance on conventional energy, and operate more sustainably.

Agay Barho Sub (ABS):

SDA’s journey began with supporting education within the deaf community—but when demand grew for broader inclusion, it sparked the creation of Agay Barho Sub (ABS). Today, ABS champions high-potential, differently abled and underprivileged students across Pakistan, offering performance-based scholarships that cover FA/FSc, university placements, and professional or skill-based degrees. In partnership with Al Furqan and supported by Rotary, the programme has already empowered outstanding students—turning A+ potential into real opportunity, with progress reviewed and rewarded every semester.

Ashiana:

Ashiana marks SDA’s latest step in building inclusive, sustainable communities—creating safe habitats for people with disabilities and underserved populations across Pakistan. As part of this initiative, Dr. Talat Rizvi, in collaboration with Sarwat N. Shah, is establishing a dedicated Maternal and Child Health Centre—bringing essential care and support to those who need it most.

Accessibility Allies & Collaborators

Over the years, many esteemed charitable organizations and NGOs in Pakistan approached Mr. Zaigham Rizvi for his support which was always provided by SDA and to ensure the needs of all special communities are addressed. SDA is proud to be partnered with the following accessibility allies:

Boltay Haroof

SDA supported the development and promotion of a digital platform of Brail in Urdu.

NED

SDA is a partner with NED Mechanical research to make wheelchairs more accessible and affordable.

Durbeen - Teachers Training Center:

Shahzad Roy launches historic teacher training program with Oxford University and Malala Fund.

Pakistan Disabled Foundation (PDF)

Pakistan Disabled Foundation is an organization of the crossed disabilities, working actively in all walks of life to the maximum possible extent.

ConnectHear

Supporting Azima Dhanjee, Founder of Connect Hear, SDA continues to finance and sponsor individuals to learn sign-language classes to foster and promote communication between both communities.

Binae Welfare Association

Established in 2017, BINAE Welfare Association, also known as the Blind Institute for National Awareness & Empowerment (BINAE), is committed to promoting inclusion and empowerment for individuals with disabilities.

Pakistan Independent Living Center

A platform for wheelchair bound community of Karachi.

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Zaigham Rizvi

MR. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi is actively engaged in service of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) for the last 40 years, with a primary focus on Hearing Impaired/Deaf and Visually Impaired/Blind Persons. He served as a founder and patron of various social services organization / association. He authored PTI policy for PwDs and organized a national convention of Persons with Disabilities in Islamabad in 2018, where chairman of PTI was chief guest. Mr. Zaigham is pioneered in promoting employment and self-employment of deaf girls and boys since 2000. He facilitated the first ever virtual conference and exhibition for PwDs in Pakistan. He is co-founder of “People with Disability-Network” and supporting to network communities and resources.

Dr. Nauman Ilias

Nauman Ilias works for an economic consulting firm in Washington DC and has a doctorate in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Finance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelors in Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Ilias’ interest in working for the betterment of the hearing and speech-impaired community of Pakistan was inspired by the work of Mr. Zaigham Rizvi and in 2024 he became the Vice Chairman of the Sir Syed Deaf Association responsible for scaling up the activities of SDA and making it a sustainable platform for the hearing and speech impaired community. To inform this next phase of SDA, Dr. Ilias planned and conducted a needs assessment survey which identified three essential needs of the community namely social, vocational, and sports events/activities. These three key community-informed priority areas will guide Dr. Ilias and Mr. Rizvi as they continue to build SDA as a nationwide platform for social, educational and sports activities for the hearing and speech-impaired of Pakistan.

Dr. Talat Rizvi

Talat Rizvi is a physician as well as a public health scientist with specialization in International Health. She received her medical degree from Fatima Jinnah Medical College in Pakistan and later changed her focus from clinical practice to public health after receiving a Fullbright scholarship for her Masters in Public Health from Tulane University in 1990. She has extensive experience in the field of Maternal and Child Health with a particular focus on community-based projects. Dr. Talat has been actively involved in the training of different cadres of health care providers including Traditional Birth Attendants, Lady Health Workers (LHW), Medical Officers as well as MPH students. She has designed and developed different manuals for community-based workers such as the trainer’s manual for the LHW program. Dr. Talat is also the author of several publications covering diverse public health issues especially pertaining to maternal and neonatal health. She is the Vice President of Rotary Club Karachi (New Central) and a Director on the Board of SDA where she oversees many of SDA’s programs including special projects such as: the People with Disabilities Network (https://pwds-network.net/); Agay Barho Sub; and Al Furqan Welfare Organization.

Ghazanfar Shah

Ghazanfar Shah works for an international Risk Management Consulting firm based in UAE where he leads their Forensics and Risk Mitigation practices. Ghazanfar specializes in leading complex, cross-border internal and regulatory investigations, helping organizations navigate sensitive matters and strengthen their governance and compliance frameworks. Ghazanfar is a CPA from USA, a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) in the UK, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), reflecting his deep expertise in financial crime risk, compliance, and investigative matters. In his spare time, Ghazanfar has been passionate about serving the differently abled communities across Pakistan, UAE, and USA. His passion to work with the Deaf community of Pakistan was inspired from watching his father, Mr. Zaigham Rizvi, serving this community for over 40 years. Ghazanfar is a Director on the board of SDA where he: overlooks the finances of the organization; oversees the social media team; and supports the Board and Management in organizing events. He is also on the Board of People with Disabilities Network (https://pwds-network.net/), and the Advisory Center for Affordable Settlement & Housing (ACASH – https://www.acash.org.pk/) which is an online platform dedicated to sharing research-based educational content on housing, urban development, and social issues.

Iman Ilias

Iman Ilias is currently a senior at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania completing a degree in Business and Economic Policy, minoring in Chinese and International Relations. Ms. Ilias has been working with people with disabilities since she was still in grade school, by helping launch various campaigns such as the Facebook page ʻSign with Imanʼ as well as collecting and distributing rations for families of people with disabilities. Ms. Ilias is fluent in both American and Pakistani sign language and has also presented to Pakistani people with disabilities on various political and social topics from American such as the Black Lives Matter movement. She has also presented to the Pakistani deaf community on opportunities for higher education in the United States such as at Gallaudet University. Ms. Ilias has also published ‘Vision Beyond Sight’, an anthology of essays written by visually impaired people of Pakistan and compiled by Suleman Arshad. Ms. Ilias is keenly aware of the talents and capabilities of people with disabilities in Pakistan and wants to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as others in our society to showcase their talents and abilities and to become active and productive members of Pakistani society.

Zaki Ilias

Zaki Ilias is currently completing his high school in Maryland, USA with a keen interest in sports, especially sports equity for all including for people with disabilities in Pakistan. Being an avid sportsman himself and playing for both his high school’s squash and golf teams, Zaki hopes to work to remove barriers in sports participation for people with disabilities in Pakistan including the hearing-impaired. His passion for equity in sports also makes him highly interested in supporting and advocating to make it easier for people with disabilities to find and sustain gainful employment opportunities. By watching his sister and grandfather work for the motivated and talented community of Pakistani people with disabilities, Zaki Ilias has developed a desire to help people with disabilities in Pakistan become productive members of society by helping them search and apply for the best jobs available in their fields while simultaneously encouraging conscientious employers to post jobs and search for the best people with disabilities to fill those posts. Through his work with the site “Agay Barho Sab”, he is seeking to build a platform whereby people with disabilities can search for job opportunities while potential employers can post employment opportunities. Zakis’ education and interests in economics, business, sports and technology position him well to use technology and other resources to help people with disabilities gain better opportunities for sports, education and employment. Zaki is also a member of SDA’s social media team.

Sophia Shah

Sophia Shah is a high school student in Dubai, UAE with a keen interest in social media, baking, and sports. She has been inspired for philanthropic activities by watching her Grandfather, Mr. Zaigham Rizvi, support the differently abled communities of Pakistan, as well as her Grandmother, Mrs. Amina Haque, and the work she does to empower and support the working women of Pakistan through Ilmas Fatima Trust. From her love of baking, and with the help of a translator, Sophia started making baking and cooking videos at a young age for the deaf girls/women members of SDA in Pakistan. She has also been a TCF Ambassador and undertaken various volunteering roles with Indus Hospital and community initiatives across Dubai and Pakistan. She is currently part of SDA’s social media team helping SDA promote its activities and events on various social media platforms.

Azlan Shah

Azlan Shah is a student leader committed to advancing dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for underserved communities. His dedication to service began in Grade 7 as a TCF Ambassador and has grown into sustained leadership roles with Indus Hospital and community initiatives across Dubai and Pakistan. Grounded in lived experience, Azlan views philanthropy not as charity, but as responsibility. He founded and leads a basketball program at Al Furqan Welfare Organization, training underprivileged youth and expanding access to mentorship, discipline, and opportunity. Inspired by his grandfather’s advocacy for the deaf community, Azlan is learning sign language and working to establish a Sign Language Club at his school. Azlan is also a part of the team working on the SDA initiative “Agay Barho Sab”; a platform whereby people with disabilities can search for job opportunities while potential employers can post employment opportunities. As a volunteer supporting accessibility initiatives and member of the social media team for SDA, he amplifies marginalized voices. Across all his work, Azlan strives to transform privilege into lasting impact through leadership rooted in empathy and action.