TV show host Iftikhar Ahmed, who was also hearing impaired, has passed away. The news of his demise was shared by his daughter Madiha Iftikhar on social media on Tuesday.

Ahmed and his wife Rehana Iftikhar hosted PTV’s renowned sign language show called Boltay Haath. The educational programme aimed to bridge the gap between able and differently-abled people with speaking and hearing difficulties in Pakistan.

Sharing a picture with her father, Madiha wrote, "Today my prayers for my father's health turned into prayers for my father to be granted Paradise.”

"Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return,” she added.

Social media users offered condolence to Ahmed’s family.

One person credited the TV host for helping differently-abled children live “meaningful lives” in society.

In an Instagram post from 2020, Madiha had shared a video of her father from 1986 receiving an award by PTV for his programme. “'Boltay Haath' was one of its kind,” she said lamenting the lack of such educational programmes on Pakistani television.

“The dilemma however is that we do not have inclusive, educational programmes to see on our national and private channels. Trying to succeed in the race of TRPS we forgot our responsibility towards our people. Unfortunately, such shows are quite common that are not giving any insights about the new era of life,” she added.

Besides Boltay Haath which aired in the 1980’s, a sign language show that pushes for deaf inclusivity is ‘Ishaaron Ki Zubaan’ by a hearing-impaired vlogger Hassan Ahmad. The show airs on multilingual television channel Kay2TV.