Got polio at only 8 months of age and has been using crutches or a wheelchair since then. She didn’t let the stigma around disability in general and the lack of infrastructure hinder her development as a person. Despite the hurdles, she managed to complete her master’s in education and Islamiyat. Due to continuing challenges in her work life, she made the decision to move from Sibbi to Quetta. Now, working for the NFWWD as a provincial coordinator, she brings her lived experience with disability into advocacy work. Despite polio being a preventable disease, many children become a victim due to a lack of awareness around it. She has been advocating for more awareness on the topic, encouraging mothers, healthcare workers, and teachers to work on eradicating polio together. In December 2022, she participated in the National Summit on the Empowerment of Women with Disabilities, convened by NFWWD and ICRC. She spoke on the lack of data and advocated for persons with disabilities to be involved at every level. She emphasized that not just representation but that inclusion through systemic support is needed.

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.

Area of focus

• Peer-led capacity building & leadership training
• Inclusive education, vocational and life skills development
• Advocacy for polio awareness and prevention
• Strengthening data collection and policy advocacy through provincial forums