Karishma Ali is a pioneering female footballer and the founder of the Karishma Ali Foundation, a women-led organization that uses sports and physical activities as strategies for social change and women empowerment, particularly in marginalized communities. Born and raised in the remote and conservative region of Chitral, Pakistan, Karishma Ali challenged social norms by taking up football at a time when few girls had the opportunity to play. She later founded the region’s first organisation dedicated to advancing girls’ and women’s participation in sport, creating pathways for thousands of young women to play, lead, and thrive.
Today KAF works directly with 1000+ young girls and 120 coaches from across different regions and communities of Pakistan. KAF combines sports training with mental health support, art therapy, climate education, awareness sessions on gender-based violence, and leadership development.
Karishma’s work has earned her numerous awards and recognition. In 2018, she was selected as the UNICEF Pakistan Adolescent Champion. In 2019, at the age of 20, she made it to the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list and was appointed to Pakistan’s first National Youth Council. In 2020 her story won “Tell her story” organised by UC Berkley and Facebook. In 2022, she received the Pride of Pakistan Award and became a member of UN Women’s 30 for 2030. In 2024, she was honored with the Sports Positive Next Generation Trailblazer Award in the UK.
