Empower The Voice

Saira Shams

"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

Born and raised in Lower Dir, KPK, Saira Shams faced structural barriers from the start. She has been living with a physical disability and visual impairment, and despite that, pursued her masters in Sociology from the Abdul Wali Khan University of Mardan. She has been working with people with disabilities in her area. Later on, she entered politics through PTI. After campaigning for some time, she was able to get a nomination by her party as a division president for Malakand.

She has won many projects for her district, working for the rights of women with disabilities. She has highlighted the low quality of wheelchairs provided by the social welfare department. She insists on the need to make policies to provide better education, employment, and health facilities to people with disabilities. Working for the government, she believes that persons with disabilities should be allotted seats in assemblies. She was also appointed a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Peace and Solidarity Council Pakistan in 2012.

key achievements

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

Area of focus

  • Inclusive Public Services
  • Political Representation
  • Legislative Reform