Seventy years after it was set up, a nondescript tea stall in a small bylane of this eastern Pakistani city continues to be a popular hangout for the hearing impaired to have heated but silent conversations.Cutting across structural and professional hierarchies, the hearing impaired have animated discussions round-the-clock in sign language at Yakoo da Hotel in the heart of Lahore.Yakoo da Hotel is one of the oldest tea stalls on here and has been hosting the hearing impaired for over seven decades. The current owner, Zafar Anayat or “Bao” as he is fondly known, has even picked up sign language to make his customers feel at home.On an average day, Bao hosts up to 200 customers. Sometimes, the numbers touch 500.One of his customers, Muhammad Naeem, has been a regular for years. Rashid Khan, a bank employee, also likes to be seen at the tea stall to take part in discussions on issues ranging from lack of Government policies for the deaf to Pakistan’s political crisis.For Bao, the hearing impaired are like his family and he will never leave them. His role, however, is not limited to being hospitable. Bao also plays matchmaker and has arranged several marriages for his customers.Much before the outlet became a haunt for the hearing impaired, it had acquired a name for serving good tea a reputation it still maintains. Lahore resident Baba Eesa set up the hotel and it soon became popular. After his death, his son Hameed ran the stall for about four decades. At that time, Bao was a waiter at the outlet. After Hameed’s death he took over and has been running it for the past 22 years.But it is not just the hearing impaired who find solace in this tea stall. A famous wrestler, who is now mentally unstable, is also a regular.Apart from Yakoo Da Hotel, another place that is making news is the KFC outlet in Lahore where 90 per cent of the staff is hearing impaired. Launched last year, the KFC outlet on the upmarket Mall Road has become famous for its efficient hearing-impaired staff. There are sign language posters on the wall to familiarise customers with basic words like thank you, welcome, sorry and of course, We Love KFC.Anam Zahid, a scarf-wearing student of Diva College, an institution for the hearing impaired, is happy to be part of the KFC staff. Though Zahid’s family was not excited at the prospect of her working, they let her accept the KFC offer.“KFC is a trusted brand and my family was very happy that I will be working with KFC. Also, I wanted to work with other such people and now KFC has given me a chance,” she told reporters shortly after the launch of the outlet.Twenty-year-old Asadullah Siddiqui too is proud to be working with KFC. “I was scared at first, thinking how will I work here and interact with normal people, working like any other employee.”
