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نمیرہ سلیم

Namira Salim

Namira Presents Spaceflight Training Certificate to Musharraf

President Praises First Pakistani Astronaut
 

RAWALPINDI: President Pervez Musharraf has lauded the services of Namira Salim, first Pakistani astronaut, saying that she is symbol of the abilities and capabilities of Pakistani women to perform well in any field of endeavour.

The President was talking to Namira Salim when she called on him here on Wednesday.

The President congratulated her on qualifying as first Pakistani astronaut and on hoisting the National Flag at the South Pole, which raised the image of Pakistan.

During the meeting, Namira also presented to the President her Sub-Orbital Spaceflight Training Certificate which she recently completed at the NASTAR centre in the United States which makes her the only Pakistani to have qualified to go to space.



President Pervez Musharraf presented with national flag flown on North & South Poles
 
London, JAN 29 -- President Pervez Musharraf was presented with Pakistan's national flag flown on the North and South Poles by a Namira Salim, known to most as the first Pakistani Astronaut.
 
The presentation took place in London before the President returned to Pakistan from Britain.  Ms. Salim was introduced to the President at a press conference by Pakistan High Commissioner (ambassador) to UK Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, who described the adventurer as an extraordinary person, who became the first Pakistani to traverse both North and South Poles.
 
Dr. Lodhi added that Ms. Salim is also training to become the first Pakistani to travel into space under a project initiated by a leading British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

Musharraf praised the exploits of Ms. Salim and accepting the flag said he would put it in an important place in his office.

Namira Salim, first Pakistani at the South Pole hoists the National flag at 90 degrees South on 10th January, 2008.

Namira Salim, the first Pakistani at the North Pole hoists a universal peace flag "Peace Making with Nation Souls" at the pinnacle of the world and the Pakistani flag, along with the UAE, Monaco flags [EU] her adopted countries on 21st April, 2007 as Pakistan's Honourary Ambassador of Tourism.

 

Richard Branson Unveils Scaled Models of SpaceShipTwo & MotherShipEve:  Namira Attends Milestone Event in New York

 

23 January 2008

 

DUBAI — After her recent South Pole expedition, Dubai-based Namira Salim got the first glimpse of the spacecraft that would hopefully take her to space next year.

Namira, who is likely to be the first Asian woman space tourist when she takes a Virgin Galactic space tourism flight, witnessed the public unveiling of SpaceShipTwo and MotherShipEve, which will carry her to sub-orbital space. Namira, alongside tycoon Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, was part of the hi-profile event in New York.  Also present was Burt Rutan, the developer of the two crafts who unveiled together with Branson, the scaled models of the spaceship and mothership which will carry Namira to space .  “It is a very exciting stage in the development of private spaceflight, as we are a big step closer to the actual launch,” said Namira from New York. 

“The most thrilling is yet to come this summer when the actual MotherShipTwo will be rolled out.  This is when the test flights begin and we are all looking forward to this the most,” she added.

 

She was recently nominated for the ‘Emirates Woman of the Year Award 2008’ under the sports category for her selection as the first woman from the UAE to go to space.

 

Namira is also the first woman from the UAE to have reached the North and South Poles in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Namira, who was selected out of 144,000 applicants is one of the 100 founders in the Virgin Galactic club who would be the first Pakistani and the first female from the UAE to go on a private space tourism flight.

Namira Salim, UAE's first Virgin Galactic Founder Astronaut at a press launch in Dubai, as she presents Sir Richard Branson with one of her creations --an astronomically accurate night sky representing the moment when the world's first private space ship, SS1 made it to space.  Since this flight was during the day, the skyscape in the art was only visible from the window of the space ship when it broke the earth's orbit.

 

PROFILE OF NAMIRA SALIM   

Namira Salim, a Pakistani artist, and known to most as the first female to go to space from Asia and the Middle East is a prominent personality based between Dubai and the Principality of Monaco since 1997.  With a Masters degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, Namira’s art represents innovations in multi-dimensional mixed media which have come to represent global causes at top international summits.   She also holds a Bachelors degree in International Business from Hofstra University in Long Island, New York.

 

Namira's selection as Founder Astronaut of Sir Richard Branson's [Chairman Virgin Group’s] Virgin Galactic, [the world's first space-liner] made her the first Pakistani and the first UAE resident to potentially go to space in 2009. After being personally introduced to the international press by Sir Richard Branson in early 2006, Namira was officially launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Pakistan as the first Pakistani Astronaut.  With unprecedented media support, she became an international role model for the women of Pakistan, South Asia and the Gulf encouraging them to excel in all spheres of life. 

 

Namira’s most recent accomplishment is her Peace expedition to the South Pole as the First Pakistani National to have reached 90 degrees South on 10th Januray 2008, where she proudly hoisted the National flag handed over to her by the caretaker Prime Minsiter, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro.  Not long ago, on 21st April, 2007, she brought laurels to the nation by becoming the first Pakistani at the North Pole in her capacity as Pakistan’s Honourary Ambassador of Tourism.  During this expedition, she proudly hoisted the National flag at the pinnacle of our world.  Moreover on both Poles, Namira also hoisted her universal  peace flag, ´´Peace Making with Nation Souls.´´ Through these unique peace missions to the top and bottom of the world, Namira generated positive press internationally.  Moreover she also became the first female at the North and South poles from her two adopted countries, Monaco and the UAE.

 

Namira’s creations have been exhibited and viewed only at top international humanitarian summits at the United Nations, UNESCO and during the former historic SAARC Summit in Pakistan.  As supporting events to high profile meets, her art has regularly voiced peace and goodwill messages before world leaders.  To this end, Namira created a specialized line of musical art objects under the theme ‘PEACE-MAKING with NATION-SOULS’ containing built-in songs in her own voice and built-in messages in the voices of distinguished humanitarian personalities.  The same were first unveiled at the United Nations in New York as a supporting event to the UN General Assembly in 2002.  For the entire month that followed, the UN secretariat lobby buzzed with voices of Kofi Annan, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco etc., from within Namira’s musical art objects. At UNESCO, her exhibition featured a special series of mix media sculptures representing the empowered women of the world [all regions], V/S the un-empowered woman of South Asia.

 

The philosophical foundation of her work rests in her private label, “A•SOUL•AFFAIR de Monaco” of which she is the founder and creator.   At the heart of her art, is thus the soul and her philosophies are deeply rooted in a strong value system and universal ethics.  A•SOUL•AFFAIR is Namira’s exclusive line of jewellery, decorative arts and fashion accessories registered in Monaco.  This line is of historic significance since Namira has brought her unique Eastern signature to museum quality European materials, like, Venetian glass, French and German Porcelain etc.   All of her themes are inspired by the densely quilted night sky.  Her unique collectibles have long served as unique gifts to VVIPs and royal family members.

Namira’s specialization at Columbia University was Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  She has also pursued programmes at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. 

 

In 1993 having been a member of AIESEC Hofstra, Namira became the Founding President of AIESEC in Pakistan, the largest student run non-profit organization of the world, which promotes peace and cooperation through corporate and cultural exchange programs.  This NGO created opportunities for several foreign interns to work in Pakistan and resulted in placing several Pakistanis in permanent jobs in the US, Europe and the far East.   [AIESEC = French Acronym for the International Association of Students in Economics and Business Management]. 

 

Namira will be publishing her first book of English poetry soon, which is inspired by Urdu ghazals.  This book will also be presented in the form of musical videos.

 

** Namira was also a student Senator at Hofstra, her undergraduate school and the Chairperson of the Intenational Student’s Association.  She received the Bovenan Award at Hofstra for her participation in extracurricular activities and also featured in the “Who’s Who among Students in Universities and colleges in 1992.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NAMIRA SALIM

 

  1. ´´PAKISTAN WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD´´ Confirmed to be awarded on 8th March 2008, on International Women´s Day.

 

  1. EMIRATES WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD.  Nominated under the sports category being the First Potential Female Astronaut from Dubai, January 2008 

 

  1. SUB-ORBITAL SPACEFLIGHT TRAINING at the world´s largest Centrifuge.  Qualified to go to sub-orbital space, October 2007.

 

  1. HONOURARY AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN FOR TOURISM, FOR “VISIT PAKISTAN YEAR 2007.”  Appointed October 2006.

 

  1. FIRST PAKISTANI NATIONAL AND FIRST WOMAN FROM THE UAE AND MONACO AT THE SOUTH POLE,  Hoisted the national flags of Pakistan, UAE, Monaco, the EU and a universal Peace flag at the South Pole on 10th January 2008.

 

  1. FIRST PAKISTANI NATIONAL AND FIRST WOMAN FROM THE UAE AND MONACO AT THE NORTH POLE,  Hoisted the national flags of Pakistan, UAE, Monaco, the EU and a universal Peace flag at the North Pole on 21st April, 2007.

 

  1. FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT FROM THE UAE – Launched by Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group in Dubai, March 2006.

 

  1. FIRST PAKISTANI ASTRONAUT- Launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Pakistan, August 2006.

 

  1. UAE - PAKISTAN EARTH-QUAKE SOLIDARITY DAY – FEBRUARY 2006  Exclusive Presentation of a Gift on behalf of the People of Pakistan, a collectible from A●SOUL●AFFAIR de Monaco to HH SHEIKH NAHYAN BIN MUBARAK AL NAHYAN, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research – UAE.  UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN TO THE UAE AND UNDER THE PATRONAGE

 

  1. SAARC SUMMIT PAKISTAN - SAARC SOULS IN HARMONY: 

DECEMBER 29TH  2003-JANUARY 6TH 2004.  Historic 12th SAARC [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation] SUMMIT PAKISTAN.

 

  1. DUBAI JAGJIT SINGH SINGING CONTEST:  WINNER OF 3RD PRIZE - OCTOBER 2003.   Contest judged by Jagjit and Chitra Singh, world renowned Indian GHAZAL singers.

 

  1. NEW YORK – UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS - MAY 2002:  

PEACE-MAKING WITH NATION-SOULS:   Official supporting event to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children.  Under the auspices of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN.  An Audio-Visual digital exhibition of revolving, jewelled art objects.

 

  1. PARIS - UNESCO HEADQUARTERS - OCTOBER 2000:

PEACE & SOUL:    During the Executive Board Meeting of UNESCO, Inaugurated by the Chairwoman of the Executive Board, Assistant Director General Culture and Head of Pakistan Delegation to UNESCO.

 

  1. UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEED AL MAKTOUM:  Member of the ruling family of Dubai, Chairman Emirates Group & President Dubai Civil Aviation.  PURELY•A•SOUL•AFFAIR - DUBAI, SEPTEMBER 2000. 

 

11. UNVEILING OF 1ST MUSICAL AUDIO-VISUAL ART OBJECT BY JAGJIT SINGH:   U.K. SEPTEMBER 1999.  Inspired by the [ghazal] music of Jagjit & Chitra Singh.  Ghazal recomposed by Kinnar K. Seen and sung by Namira Salim.  Originally sung by Chitra Singh.

 

NAMIRA SALIM’s ARTS & COLLECTABLES HAVE BEEN GIFTED TO:

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group:  March 2006, November 2006

H.E. Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa: 2000

HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan: Former President of the UAE

HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan:  President of the UAE: 2000

HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan [UAE’s Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research]: 2006

HH Sheikha Fatimah [wife of Former President of the UAE]: 2000

HH Shiekh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum: Ruling Family of Dubai

[Chairman Emirates Group & President Dubai Civil Aviation:  2001]

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Namira Salim continues to inspire and empower the women of the UAE and Pakistan.  Her daring adventures have created positive press and have encouraged women to excel in all fields of life.  Namira has recently been nominated for the prestigious ´´Emirates Woman of the Year Award 2008´´ under the sports category.  To vote for her to receive this award please send an email to emirateswoman@motivate.ae.  You must enter ´´Namira Salim´´ in the subject box and include your name and contact details in the email.

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