Karishma Ali is a Pakistani footballer and the founder of the Karishma Ali Foundation. She is an internationally awarded social entrepreneur who has represented Pakistan in two different International sports events. In 2018, she became a UNICEF Pakistan Adolescent Champion, and in 2019, she was honored as one of Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30. That same year, she was selected as a member of Pakistan’s first National Youth Council.
Driven by a vision to share her experiences and empower other girls in her region, Karishma Ali is currently impacting the lives of 500 girls. Her foundation, a registered non-governmental organization (NGO), is one of the few women-led organizations dedicated to promoting innovative and sustainable sports and physical activity programs as a means of social change and women’s empowerment, with a special focus on marginalized communities, particularly the Kalash.
The Karishma Ali Foundation’s multifaceted approach includes sports training, mental health support through art therapy, education on gender-based violence, and leadership development, equipping girls with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. In 2022, Karishma Ali was listed in the Pride of Pakistan Enclosure and received the Hamary Heroes Award during PSL.
