ISLAMABAD: Saima Saleem, counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, has become the first blind Pakistani civil servant to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
A video shared by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN shows Saleem reading her speech in written in Braille during a UNGA session on Saturday. Saleem was responding to an Indian delegate, reiterating Pakistan's position in support of the UN-warranted right to self-determination of Kashmiri people.
Her performance drew praises from Pakistan's top politicians.
"Not only I but the nation is very proud of her," President Dr. Arif Alvi said in a tweet.
Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, congratulated Saleem "for successfully putting forward Pakistan's position."
Ministers also took to social media to congratulate the 37-year-old diplomat.
"She is a top notch diplomat who outshines so many others," Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said.
"Saima is visually impaired but way she spoke seems her heart can see everything, you have made us proud," Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
Saleem, a career diplomat, is an international humanitarian law graduate of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, and holds a master's degree in English literature from the Kinnaird College For Women University.
