Empower The Voice

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

Maria Qureshi’s journey began at the age of 15 when a spinal cord injury resulted in her becoming paraplegic. She spent five years being bedridden, but later found strength through her community and self-management training through which she was able to regain her independence. After completing her education, she joined Pakistan’s Disability Movement and started to dedicate her time to disability and gender inclusion.

Now, working as the Executive Director of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD), she has become a powerful voice for independent living. In 2012, she joined the U.S. Department’s International Leadership Program and started exploring accessible infrastructure. This inspired her to push Pakistan in a similar, more inclusive direction. Since then, she has conducted 50+ workshops and worked with architects and designers on accessibility. In 2017, she led the Accessible Pakistan Audit Campaign and assessed public spaces. She has recently focused her advocacy on women with intellectual disabilities, recognizing the systemic invisibility they face. Maria has represented Pakistan on many international forums, including the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. Her work has earned her awards such as the Distinguished Alumni Award from the U.S. Embassy and the Khadija Tul Kubra Award from the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. Today, she works with UNFPA and STEP to address gender-based violence against women with disabilities, combining human rights advocacy and social change.

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 smallgrants for her projects “Life with SpinalCord Injury” (2016) and “Accessible Pakistan” (2017).
  • Women Peace Architect Award, Issued by Search for Common Ground, AuratFoundation

Areas of focus

  • Psychosocial Support
  • Accessibility Audits
  • Women with Disabilities