Saima Saleem, Pakistan’s visually impaired diplomat deployed at United Nations (UN) delivered a vibrant speech in response to her Indian counterpart which brought her in headlines in the last few days and the nation is proud of her courage and intelligence despite her physical disability.
Saima, the pride of Pakistan had a bright educational career. She attended Aziz Jahangir Begum Trust, an institution for blind students, to receive her early education. She also attended Kinnaird College for Women and later moved to Washington DC to pursue her higher education at Georgetown University.
This highly esteemed girl qualified Central Superior Services(CSS), Pakistan’s most prestigious exam with a distinction. She stood at 6th position in overall Pakistan and decided to join Foreign Services of Pakistan.
Saima is also a writer and has authored a book on the Kashmir issue, which is her area of expertise, and has also delivered a speech on the very same topic at the UN.
Saima beholds the legacy of a highly encouraged disabled family, evidence of who are her siblings. Her sister teaches at the University of Lahore and is blind. Her brother, Yousuf Saleem has the honour of being the first blind judge of Pakistan.
Indeed, this exemplary family has given a ray of hope to the physically disabled people to not give up upon their dreams because of a natural disorder rather consider it a ladder to step forward.
Author: Iqra Arif