The Access to the Media (Deaf and Dumb) Persons Act, 2022, which mandates sign language interpreters for television networks, was approved by President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday.

According to a tweet from the President House, no news broadcasts on the national broadcaster, state- or privately-run electronic media, private television channels, cable TV, or any other broadcast media may be made without Pakistan sign language interpreters after six months from the Act's start.

In addition, after a year, no picture program—whether it be entertainment, advertising, a talk show, a drama, a film, or any other picture program—will be permitted to be broadcast without a sign language interpreter on any public or private electronic media, private TV channel, cable TV, or other media.

On June 1, 2022, the measure was unanimously approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting.

It was proposed by Senator Saleem Mandviwala and referenced both Article 19A of the Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

As justification for the necessity of the act, the article requires the state to take steps to guarantee that persons who are deaf or dumb have access to media

This was accompanied by a statement in the law that COVID-19 had "shown the vital necessity to continue working to guarantee this right in emergency situations and during humanitarian crises."

The law is instantly effective and applies to the whole nation.