Empower The Voice

Abia Akram

"If policies don't have teeth, change can't happen"

CEO, National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Project Director, Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) | Co-Chair, Ageing and Disability Task Force (ADTF) | Chair, Global-Forum in the leadership of women with disabilities | Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Women with Disabilities United (APWWDU) | Global Chair, Youth Council (UNICEF) | Trustee, Sightsavers | Executive Board Member, Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum

key Achievements

  • WIN DRR Leadership Award (Rising Star), 2023, Recipient
  • BBC 100 Women, 2021
  • Human Rights Presidential Award (Pakistan), Recipient
  • British Council Alumni Award

Maria Qureshi

We believe that women with disabilities' rights are achieved and sustained when feminist and disability movements have an enabling environment to work.

Executive Director, National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Psychosocial Support Consultant, Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) | Project Coordinator, Noor-e-Seher Vocational Training Center | Disability Rights Activist | Infrastructural Accessibility Auditor

key Achievements

  • Amtul Raqeeb Award (2017), Presented by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
  • Khadija Tul Kubra Award (2019), Awarded by the Women's Parliamentary Caucus
  • Distinguished Alumni Award (2017), Conferred by the U.S. Embassy
  • Pak-US Alumni Network Grants, Recipient of two consecutive small grants for her projects “Life with Spinal Cord Injury” (2016) and “Accessible Pakistan” (2017).
  • Women Peace Architect Award, Issued by Search for Common Ground, Aurat Foundation

Saima Aslam

International Coordinator, National Forum of Women With Disabilities | Psychosocial Support Consultant, STEP | Disability Rights Activist | Motivational Speaker | Facilitator

"We need an accessible and disability-friendly Pakistan for persons with disabilities"

key Achievements

  • Henry Viscardi Global Achievement Award 2016 Saima was the first Pakistani woman with a disability recognized globally for her leadership in disability inclusion under NFWWD’s network
  • Gold Medal 2009, Awarded by the Government of Pakistan
  • Khateeja Tul Kubra Award 2018, Women Parliamentary Caucus & Human Rights Ministry
  • US-Pakistan Disability Leadership Professional Exchange Program

Dr. Yusra Gilani

"Celebrate yourself, celebrate the way you are"

Provincial Coordinator (Islamabad), National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Psychosocial Support Consultant, Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) | Youth Disability Rights Activist | Women Peace Architect, Aurat Foundation

key Achievements

  • Women Peace Architect Award, Issued by Search for Common Ground, Aurat Foundation
  • Khadija Tul Kubra Award, Issued by UNFPA Women's Parliamentary Caucus
  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities training to South Asian Countries, Issued by Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability, Disabled Peoples International Korea
  • Doctor of Pharmacy, Riphah International University

Zarghoona Wadood

"Inclusion is more than just a checkbox on an organization’s agenda. True progress necessitates genuine inclusion. The key is the understanding that disability isn’t simply an add-on to discussions but rather a key point in its own right. Creating inclusive spaces is imperative to ensure diverse voices are heard"

Provincial Coordinator (Balochistan), National Forum of Women With Disabilities | Deputy Chairperson, Balochistan Disability Act Council | Steering Committee Member, ARJC 2024 – Asia Safe Abortion Partnership | Consultant, UN Women | Disability Inclusion Focal Person, United Nations

key Achievements

  • ISPR High Achiever Trophy in recognition of her efforts in the disability movement and work in Balochistan.
  • Global Award Winner by Rehabilitation International for Significant Contributions to the Disability Movement.
  • Co-chair at ARJC 2024

Shamsa Kanwal

Provincial Coordinator (Punjab), National Forum of Women With Disabilities (NFWWD) | Founder & Chairperson, Safia Foundation, Sialkot

"Everyone will have to change thoughts and attitude towards disabled people for making them useful citizens."

key Achievements

  • She is the first Pakistani visually impaired woman to have completed the year-long Duskin Leadership Training programme in Japan, offered to her by the Japanese government for the betterment of disabled people.
  • Organized an event with the Sialkot social welfare department to mark the International Day for Persons with disabilities in December 2022.
  • Frequently featured in media as a “symbol of courage,” demonstrating how disability can be reframed as strength.

Zahida Hameed Qureshi

"For me, my disability is my strength. And my message is to never lose hope"

National Coordinator, National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Founder & CEO, Society for Special Persons – Multan | Advisor to Punjab Government | Member of Aawaz II Provincial Forum

key Achievements

  • Featured internationally by The Guardian as a transformative leader in disability inclusion in Pakistan
  • Fatima Jinnah Woman of the Year Award, Presidential recognition

Afshan Afridi

"I encourage these women to take part in all normal activities – though it might not be as easy – still they should not give up as it is their only way to decide how they want to live their life - a dependent life hiding all life behind doors or an inspiring one."

National Coordinator, National Forum of Women with Disabilities Member | Human Rights Commission – KP chapter | Founder & CEO of Collective Alliance for the Rights of Young Girls with Disabilities

 

key Achievements

  • Huner-e-Hawa award, Government of KP
  • Young Energetic Soul Award, Government of KP.
  • Award for ending violence against women and girls in the areas of KP and FATA.

Saira Ayub

Provincial Coordinator (Punjab), National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Associate Professor of Economics | Inclusive Education Advocate

"Meeting friends with disabilities who had achieved remarkable things made me embrace my own disability and enjoy life."

key Achievements

  • Named a recipient of an Australia Awards Scholarship
  • Recognized within NFWWD networks

Fouzia luni

"Once you choose hope, anything is possible. "

Provincial Coordinator (Balochistan), National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Alumna, Disability Leadership Program | Skill Developer, Government Girls College, Quetta

key Achievements

  • Took part in the National Summit convened by NFWWD and ICRC in December 2022, focused on gender-sensitive inclusion.
  • During discussions, she emphasized the urgent need to create a barrier-free environment and enhance leadership capacity.

Laila Naseeb

"Authorities should implement quotas for women with disabilities to ensure their meaningful participation in governance."

Provincial Coordinator (Gilgit-Baltistan), National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | General Secretary, Karakoram Disability Forum (KDF), Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan

 

key Achievements

  • Recognized by UN Pakistan as “an inspiring role model” on IDPD 2023
  • General Secretary of KDF

Aliza Munim Qazi

Provincial Coordinator (Sindh), National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Art & Designer at the world of Art | Officer/Associate in the Credit Administration Department at PKIC families

 

One thing that has kept me motivated throughout was that art has no language and barriers, if one is good at it, he can do it despite any kind of hurdles and limitations. For people sky is the limit, for me, I can go limitless through my art.

key Achievements

  • Founder of the world of art
  • Secured 2nd position at the live art competition at Port Grand
  • Nominated in an Exhibition held at Grandeur Art Gallery
  • Featured Artist – HSY Art Competition

Dr. Anum Najam

"Disability is not about health issue, it is about discrimination and systemic exclusion. It must be addressed as a question of fundamental human rights"

Provincial Coordinator (AJK), NFWWD | Consultant Psychiatrist | Chevening Scholar | Disability Inclusion Advocate |

key Achievements

  • PSIM Resilience Award (2019) for her inspiring medical journey
  • Empowered, Dignified and Prosperous Woman Achievement Award on Women's Day 2016
  • Civil Society Award (2024) by Civil Society Muzaffarabad

Laila Naseeb

"With my actions, I want to show all these people that one can grow and achieve their goals if they truly believe in themselves. I want to be the embodiment of courage for them"

Provincial Coordinator (KP), National Forum of Women With Disabilities | Vice President, Women Wing at Khánh Vy | Speaker of the House at Malakand Youth Assembly | General Secretary, All Pakistan Union of Special Journalists and Writers, KPK

key Achievements

  • Poet of the Year Award 2012
  • Gender and Equality Pakistan Award
  • Hunar-e-Hawwa Award 2016
  • Prominent PTI women’s leader

Yumna ikram

Provincial Coordinator (Sindh), National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Co-Founder/General Secretary, Inclusive Destiny

We are not helpless and we do not want looks of pity.

key Achievements

  • Co‑founded Inclusive Destiny, a grassroots organization working to enable digital access and civic participation for persons with disabilities
  • Actively participates in public seminars and speaker panels promoting equal representation of people with disabilities
  • She took part in National Summit for Empowerment of Women with disabilities, organized by ICRC in collaboration with NFWWD

Tasneem Zahra

"People with disability have a strong presence and are working hard… They are great examples of courage and icon of support to each other."

Provincial Director (Gilgit-Baltistan), National Forum of Women With Disabilities | Disability Rights Advocate | Peer Activist, Gilgit‑Baltistan | Educator | Inclusion Trainer

key Achievements

  • Frontline Advocate Against GBV in Disability Contexts
  • Policy Mobilization for Disability Rights Reform

Maria Zia

"To achieve disability equality, it is mandatory to mainstream diability into development by making disabled people's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of policies and programmes at all levels"

Executive Director, National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Project Officer- Inclusive Initiatives, Hashoo Foundation | Visual-Impairment Rights Advocate

key Achievements

  • Participated in PUAN’s “No One Left Behind” conference in 2016
  • Invited as a speaker in UN Women press conferences advocating for greater inclusion of women with disabilities

Nagina Tahir

Executive Director, National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Sign Language Specialist | Disability Inclusion Advocate | Former Ambassador of Deaftawk

"Because of the presence of a sign-language interpreter, I never felt left out at meetings… I participated actively and voiced my ideas and thoughts"

key Achievements

  • Selected to represent Pakistan in the Disability Exchange Program (US) through STEP
  • As a Sign Language Specialist, Nagina has empowered deaf women and girls nationwide
  • She has represented Pakistani women with disabilities in forums across Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the US, sharing her journey

The Late Nasreen Aziz

"The most important change we have to make is the change within ourselves."

Executive Director, National Forum of Women With Disabilities | Chairperson, Chiragh‑e‑Manzil of Special Persons (Bagh, Azad Kashmir) | Founder & Coordinator, Community Education for Disabled Women

key Achievements

  • Pride of Performance Award (2007), National recognition for her work with disabled survivors of the 2005 earthquake, especially in Bagh
  • Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal (2010)
  • Earthquake Rehabilitation Leadership

Shumaila Naz

"Reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with disability. It is time to foster the inclusion and well-being of women with disabilites. "

Director, National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Community Leader | Advocate for Culturally Inclusive Disability Rights

key Achievements

  • Mobilizing peer-led capacity building in remote districts
  • Partnering with local NGOs and DPOs to train women with disabilities in self-advocacy
  • Representing Balochistan in NFWWD-led forums

Tanzila Khan

Executive Director, National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Founder & CEO Creative Alley, | Team Lead Entrepreneurship Development Program, Hashoo Foundation | Pakistani entrepreneur | Disability rights activist | Author | Founder of Girlythings PK

"The world is yours. Whatever you want to do, just do it. Be bold. Step up and own it"

key Achievements

  • Amal Clooney Award, Issued by Princes Trust International
  • Featured among Six-Two's 35 Under 35 Human Rights Changemakers of 2018
  • Young Connector of the Future, Swedish Institute
  • Young Leader, Women Deliver
  • Khadija tul Kubra Award, national level recognition for advocacy
  • Youth Champion at Rise Up, Packard Foundation

THE LATE SANA AYUB

Provincial Coordinator, National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) | Founder & Chairperson, Empower Welfare Foundation for Youth and Persons with Disabilities | Disability Rights Advocate

 

"Do not pity anyone. Allah has placed some ability in every person, so focus on those abilities, not on our physical condition."

key Achievements

  • Founded Empower Welfare Foundation – Provided training, resources, and advocacy for youth and persons with disabilities.
  • Recognized Inspirational Figure, Featured in media for redefining perceptions about disability in Pakistan.
  • Community Mobilization, Led outreach programs that increased awareness of accessibility and inclusion in public spaces.
  • Youth & Women’s Empowerment

komal younis

"If we can't bring persons with disabilities to opportunities, we should bring opportinities to them."

Provincial Coordinator (KPK), National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Chief Administrative Officer at Created Opportunities | Member of the Board of Directors at Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic and Orthotic Sciences – PIPOS

key Achievements

  • MIUSA Alumna
  • PAUN Alumna
  • Won KP Impact Challenge
  • Won Piloting Innovative Idea, Sustainable Development Goals by P&D, KP

Anum Khan

"When people realize the notion of disability isn’t in our bodies, but in our minds then disabilities will no longer exist"

Director, National Forum of Women with Disabilities | Coordinator, Milestone (Society for the Special Persons)

key Achievements

  • Certification in the information management system for persons with disabilities
  • Organizes sports for persons with disabilities on a national level.
  • Participated as a panelist at the National Policy Forum’s Women’s Inclusion in democratic governance