Sept 26, 2021: Pakistan’s visually impaired diplomat Saima Saleem delivered a powerful speech on Saturday, presenting the country’s position in the United Nations General Assembly for the first time using Braille.

On Twitter, Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, congratulated Saima Saleem for representing Pakistan in a powerful speech during the UNGA session.

“I congratulate my teammate Saima Saleem on exercising her right to answer and successfully advancing Pakistan’s position,” he said.

Saima Saleem, Pakistan’s envoy to the UNGA, said India occupies an internationally recognized disputed territory, the final decision of which needs to be made in accordance with the democratic principles of free and fair referendum under the auspices of the UN. Security Council resolutions.

After Indian representative’s accused Pakistan of promoting and harbouring terrorists to harm theirneighbours, she launched a scathing statement in retaliation saying that India’s use of the canard of terrorism, regurgitating stale arguments are typical of all occupiers.he use of terrorism by India.

“We call on the international community to take note of the overwhelming evidence and hold India accountable for its heinous crimes,” she said.

Born on August 10, 1984, Saima is a career diplomat with insight and determination, she has managed to turned all stumbling blocks into steps.

As a blind woman, she has not only fought for the rights of people with disabilities in her country, but also for the promotion and protection of human rights, especially vulnerable groups. She is also a strong advocate of world peace and interfaith dialogue and harmony.

She is an author, motivational speaker and expert negotiator, specializing in international human rights and international humanitarian law, public and economic diplomacy, trade and investment issues, and international security.

Currently, she is working as a counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, New York and dealing with human rights and humanitarian affairs in the Third Committee, General Assembly and Security Council and various UN entities, including UNHCR, OCHA, UN-Women, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and IOM.

Prior to being posted as Deputy Secretary at the Prime Minister Office in September 2017, she has been working as a Human Rights Expert representing Pakistan at the Human Rights Council at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva from September 2013 to August 2017.

She was awarded the gold medal by the Foreign Service Academy, a distinction by the Civil Services Academy, a gold medal for her Masters in English Literature qualification and the Dr Mira Phailbus Gold Medal for Academic Excellence in B.A by Kinnaird University. She was also awarded the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal on International Women’s Day and the Quaid-E-Azam Gold Medal for the best academic performance.

She also became first blind diplomat of Pakistan for whom rules for recruitment were amended by the government for joining the Foreign Service.

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