Saima Saleem
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Saima Saleem | |
|---|---|
| Education | MPhil in English literature |
| Alma mater | Kinnaird College for Women, Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Diplomatic service |
| Relatives | Yousaf Saleem (brother) |
Saima Saleem is a Pakistani civil servant. She is the first visually impaired Pakistani woman to be employed by the Federal Government and is part of the country's diplomatic service.[1][2] She is the Second Secretary on Human Rights for Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.[3][4]
Saima completed her bachelor's and MPhil in English literature from Kinnaird College for Women University, where she completed both her degrees in first division and won gold medals for her performance.[5][6]
She was also among the top 10 students among the 300 sighted students.[7][8]
In 2007, she passed her Central Superior Services (CSS) exam, securing the 6th position overall and the first position among women.[9][10]
Personal life
In her childhood, Saima Saleem was diagnosed with RP (retinitis pigmentosa), an eye disease.[11] The disease was incurable and gradually, Saima started losing her sight. When she was thirteen years old, Saima lost her vision completely.[12] Saima has four siblings, two of whom are also blind. Earlier, her brother Yousaf Saleem became the first blind judge of Pakistan.[13][14] Saima's sister, who is also blind, is a lecturer at the University of Lahore.[15][16][17]
Career
Saima started her career as a lecturer at her home university, Kinnaird College for Women, where she stayed from 2007 to 2008.[18]