Saima Saleem
The Helen Keller of Pakistan Ambassador of Hope- Saima Saleem is in Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva (Switzerland). Saima is a beacon of hope. She has proven that no matter what the 'cards' one is master of one's own destiny. In 2008, she became the first blind diplomat of Pakistan. Due to a genetic disease (Retinitis Pigmentosa), Saima lost her sight in her teens. Negative social attitudes, lack of resources, unchanging rules and policies stood in her way when she resolved to change the perception of society regarding persons with special abilities.
What helped was that she was the most outstanding student of her school. Her academic excellence won her gold medals in Bachelors and Masters at the Kinnaird College University for Women. As a first in Pakistan, all her exams were conducted in Braille because she fought for her rights and refused to appear with the help of a writer - who could mar her future by negligence and lack of capacity. Thereafter she appeared in the CSS Exam resolved to become the first blind Civil Servant of Pakistan. Initially FPSC refused to conduct her exam because she requested for a computer- based exam which had never been conducted in Pakistan. Due to her relentlessness finally the President of Pakistan ordered FPSC to conduct the computer- based exam. She uses Screen - Reader software (JAWS) for working independently on the computer and software for scanning books and other material for reading. She came sixth position in the entire country and first among female candidates. The ordinance had made FPSC allow disabled candidates to choose only four occupational groups ie - Accounts, Commerce, Information and Postal. Once again, Saima refused to accept this discriminatory treatment and chose Foreign Service as she wanted to become a diplomat and serve her country. This time the Prime Minister relented and allowed her to join the Foreign Service on merit. In the Foreign Service Academy too, she topped and won the Gold Medal. In addition, she won a Fulbright Scholarship and went to study at the School of Foreign Service in Georgetown University USA. On joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due her passion for human rights she has become a leading light on this subject. A modern day Helen Kellerk, Saina is truly a source of pride for all humanity.
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Blindness in Pakistan - LRBT Documentary
"The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight, but no vision." -- Helen Keller
In Pakistan, almost 1.7 million people suffer from blindness, causing an annual loss of productivity of Rs.69 billion to the nation's GDP. Not to forget another 17 million who have impaired vision. Like Sajida's family, most of the afflicted people are poor with little or no means to survive leave aside support.
Although 85% blindness is curable, a vast majority simply can't afford the treatment due sheer poverty.
There are 1.7 million people in the country who are blind causing an Annual loss of Rs 69 Billion to the nation's GDP. Another 17 million have Impaired Vision.
LRBT is a beacon of hope for the poor blind people in Pakistan. Help us to save them from a life of darkness and destitution.
Click here to watch this video
http://www.nidokidos.org/threads/237244
Posted by: Farrukh Butt <fkamalbutt2010@gmail.com>
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