Good one.
Thank you
-----Original Message-----
From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Prashant Verma
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 5:54 PM
To: Accessindia
Subject: [AI] The story of visually impaired diplomat from Pakistan - Saima
Saleem
Got this from another list.
Saima Saleem- serving in Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva
This will give many of you immense inspiration and motivation. I sincerely
hope that after reading this, many of us understand that most of the
limitations we think of might just be in our mind. Saima is a beacon of
hope. She has turned all odds presented to her and time and again has proven
that no matter what 'cards' are dealt to you, you are in control of your own
destiny. My weak effort to her beautiful journey is merely just an attempt
to highlight different facets of how she bravely faced adversity.
Some people in the world are bestowed with the 'vision' and change course
their own history. I happen to come across Saima, and was driven to this
conclusion that she happens to be one of them. In 2008, she became the first
blind diplomat of Pakistan. Yes, you guys read that right. Read on, it
happens to be an amazing story and I found myself dumbfounded.
Due to a genetic disease (Retinitis Pigmentosa), Saima lost her sight in her
teenage. Here, where millions of people with special abilities are treated
as social outcastes, face all forms of discrimination, are denied
fundamental human rights, including, among others, right to education and
employment, this ambassador of hope decided to turn every stumbling-block
into a stepping- stone. Negative social attitudes, lack of resources, never
changing rules and policies and many such obstacles could not match Saima's
unflinching resolve to do something extraordinary in life and change the
perception of our society regarding persons with special abilities.
Saima rose like a phoenix. She was the most outstanding student of her
school. Due to her academic excellence, she was given a gold medal in
Bachelors and Master by Kinnaird College University for Women. For the first
time in Pakistan, all her exams were conducted in Braille because she fought
for her rights and refused to appear in exams with the help of a writer who
could mar her future due to negligence and lack of capacity. After her
Masters, she decided to appear in the CSS exams with the resolve to become
the first blind Civil Servant of Pakistan.
At first, FPSC refused to conduct her exam because she requested for a
computer-based exam which had never been conducted in Pakistan. Through a
divine intervention and her relentless pursuits, her wish was granted and
President of Pakistan ordered FPSC to conduct a computer-based exam. It is
pertinent to mention that she uses Screen-Reader software (JAWS) for working
independently on the computer and software for scanning the books and other
material for reading.
The leader got sixth position in the country and first among female
candidates. Through an ordinance, FPSC had only allowed disabled candidates
to choose only four occupational groups-Accounts, Commerce, Information and
Postal. Once again, Saima refused to accept this discriminatory treatment
and chose Foreign Service for she had always wanted to become a diplomat and
represent Pakistan. Rules had to face a defeat in front of her indomitable
resolve and the Prime Minister of Pakistan allowed her to join Foreign
Service on merit. After joining Foreign Service, she topped all trainings
and exams and was given another Gold Medal by Foreign Service Academy. In
addition, she won a Fulbright Scholarship and went to study at the
prestigious School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University USA. Upon
joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due to her passion to improve human
rights in the country, she developed expertise in human rights and had been
working on human rights issues from the last five years.
Saima is currently serving in Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the United
Nations in Geneva (Switzerland) and is working on human rights issues. It is
a matter of great pride for the nation that Pakistan is represented by an
outstanding young diplomat who has fought incessantly for human rights and
has overcome all challenges. Her charismatic personality and stunning
achievements have given a big boost to the soft image of the country. What
an awesome future prospect for our country that Helen Keller of the 21st
century is the face of Pakistan!
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