Communication is the way human beings interact with each other to receive, process and send ideas, thoughts, wants and needs. Communication can either be verbal in the form of spoken language and/or non verbal in the form of sign language, gestures, facial expressions, augmentative communication. An inability to communicate verbally or non verbally isolates an individual from other human beings in society.

Speech Language Therapists/Pathologists (SLTs or SLPs) are professionals trained to investigate and treat abnormal manifestations of communication and swallowing disorders, for whatever cause, in children and adults. To perform this task competently, they need to have a thorough knowledge of swallowing, swallowing disorders, normal communicative processes, development and disorders there of, evaluation procedures to assess the bases of such disorders and clinical techniques that have been known to improve or eradicate these disorders.

Pakistan with a population of 160 million individuals has an estimated over 23 million suffering from communication, swallowing and/or hearing disorders. To cater to this huge demand there are only seven Speech and Language therapists/pathologists (SLTs or SLPs) in the country, whose degrees are recognized internationally. All of them have obtained their qualification in Speech Language Pathology from abroad.

Considering this dilemma faced by Pakistan, The Speech & Hearing Association (SHAP), and Ziauddin University (ZU), have successfully established the first ever "Ziauddin College of Speech Language Therapy (ZCSLT)"- (formerly known as the Speech Language Training Therapy School)- housed at the Ziauddin Hospital and Ziauddin University campus at Clifton in Karachi, Pakistan.