NEW YORK  -  Pakistani leadership as well as diplomatic circles have appreciated the country’s first visually-impaired delegate Saima Saleem for effectively presenting Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and Indian atrocities in the occupied territory of Kashmir during the UN General Assembly session.  

Saima Saleem is serving as consular at Pakistani Mission in United States. She is the first blind civil servant who has represented the country at the 76th United Nations General Assembly session. President Arif Alvi also appreciated her well-worded speech which reflected Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and other issues.

“Not only I but also the nation are very proud of her. This is the Pakistan that we want where people with talent rise, a land of equal opportunities and compassion. Mashallah,” the President tweeted. A top Pakistani diplomat told The Nation that when Saima Saleem was delivering her speech and responding to Indian allegations at the UNGA session, her Indian counterpart left the session. 

He said Ms Saleem is a seasoned diplomat who worked hard to highlight the Pakistan stance at the UNGA session. “She (Ms Salim) was very excited before delivering her speech in UNGA session,” he said. He also said Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Munir Akram gave her confidance to represent the country in the UNGA session. He said he received several messages from diplomats of other countries who appreciated Saima Saleem’s spech in the UNGA session. She read the speech using Braille for the first time from the UNGA hall.” Talking to a news channel, she said that it is very pleasing that she feels honoured by representing Pakistan at this world forum.

She said that they have been raising voice for the cause of Kashmir at every world forum. It is worth mentioning here that Saima Saleem is visually impaired and associated with Foreign Service Group of Pakistan and in the history of UN General Assembly session, she is the first who has delivered speech using Braille in the UN session. She said that she is especially thankful to Pakistan’s Ambassador to USA Munir Akram who has been very supportive and she learned a lot while working in his guidance. Ms Saleem stated that it was the initiative of Munir Akram that she was tasked to deliver the speech at this world forum on the issue of Kashmir.

She maintained that it is her professional responsibility to present Pakistan’s policy towards Kashmir and Foreign Office of Pakistan utilizes every opportunity to convey Pakistan’s stance forcefully for the cause of Kashmir. She also added that she is very thankful to the people of Pakistan and her colleagues who lauded and encouraged her to speak for the cause of Kashmir at the world forum.