Born in the town of Khas Dir, Samar did not have much exposure to sport or physical activity growing up. Like many young Pakistani women, she found herself in an abusive relationship, social restrictions, conservative environment and working a job in a call center to make ends meet. That is when she learned about a paragliding training course being offered by the Army. Completing her paragliding certification opened Samar’s eyes to a different world.

In 2014, Samar launched her own sports club, Samar Camp and began traveling across Pakistan to lead projects, seminars, and outdoor expeditions intended to train and educate people about the importance of sports activities. She is a two-time presenter at TEDx conferences in her country, and serves as a brand ambassador for several initiatives related to gender equality and environmental protection.

She got selected by ESPNW Global Sports Mentoring Program from Pakistan because of her extraordinary work in inspiring youth and especially women through adventure sports. By participating in the GSMP, Samar has learned how she can take the empowerment she has experienced through sports and use it to increase nationwide female participation in competitive and recreational sport. In a country where cultural discrimination against women is still prominent and few female sports role models exist, Samar is maximizing her platform to normalize and elevate sport for Pakistani women.