The first ever United Nations International Day of Sign Languages was observed on Sunday. It will be followed by International Week of Deaf Persons until September 30, 2018. The Deaf Week is celebrated in the last week of September however the International Deaf Sign Language (IDSL) has been announced for the very first time. Deaf persons around the globe expressed their happiness on the announcement as now they will avail opportunities to live their life in a normal way. The deaf community has often put forth its reservations on being labeled as persons whose hearing is impaired – a label given to them in Pakistan mainly. The deaf community is also known as the world’s biggest minority as they are distinct in culture using sign language as their only tool. This minority in statistics equals to 360 million people on Earth meaning 5 percent of the world’s total population, according to the World Health Organisation. On Saturday, in Super Market F-6, a mobile fast food dhaba called Abey Khao run by deaf persons, celebrated IDSL by holding placards and people from civil society including women and children joined them in celebrations. The state and civil society members together with deaf people organisations need to chalk out goal oriented plans and expedite the efforts to materialise the commitments made by Pakistan in ratification of United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was signed by former president Asif Ali Zardari in 2011. Published in Daily Times, September 24th 2018.