Dubai-based women get Pak achievement awards

The Pakistan Professionals Wing-Dubai (a wing of Pakistan Association Dubai) presented the ‘Pakistani Women Achievements Awards’ to two UAE-based outstanding Pakistani Women who excelled globally.

Namira Salim is an artist and adventurer, who became the first Pakistani woman to go for polar expeditions and was awarded ‘Tamgha-i-Imtiaz’ by the President of Pakistan.

The second woman, Amna Ehtesham Khaishgi is the author and director of a short film called Leap of Faithwhich was widely appreciated at the Cannes Film Festival 2011 and the Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010. The film was also shortlisted among the best documentaries.

The awards were given away by Tariq Iqbal Soomro, Consul General of Pakistan, along with Munir Mahmood, Chairman of the Pakistan Professional Wing–Dubai, at a special ceremony in Dubai on Saturday. “The recognition provided to the two ladies is an excellent step taken by PPW for the positive image of the country especially in the UAE,” Soomro said.  He also appreciated PPW for their remarkable contribution towards education and social welfare.

Namira is  known to most as the first female to go to space from South Asia and the Middle East, aboard Sir Richard Branson’s virgin Galactic. Namira is the first Pakistani and female from the UAE to reach the North Pole in 2007 and the South Pole in 2008. She was also the first Asian and female from the UAE to have skydived from above Mount Everest, the third pole of the world.

Amna is a documentary film maker based in the UAE. She has worked with several news channels and production houses and has produced documentaries on diverse human, social, political and business issues for several international channels. She has about 10 years of experience in the television industry, which includes six years as broadcast journalist and producer/director.