Mrs Ahmed said her MBE recognised Muslim woman in Wales

Zakia Ahmed, 62, set up groups to help Muslim and Asian women integrate after moving from Pakistan 30 years ago.

She became Wales' first Muslim woman MBE in the Queen's New Year honours.

Mrs Ahmed is currently an adviser for special needs charity SNAP Cymru, which called her a "role model for her community and women in general".

Among the organisations Mrs Ahmed established are the Pakistani Women's Association, the Pakistan Educational and Cultural Association and the Asian Cultural Association.

There are so many barriers and we have crossed those barriers Zakia Ahmed

Through them, she has helped hundreds of women from ethnic minorities improve their English, learn new skills, set up businesses, increase their assertiveness and self-confidence, and integrate into Welsh society.

She has been advising SNAP Cymru for five years on a project looking at how issues in ethnic minority communities affect access to and delivery of special needs services.

The charity's director, Denise Inger, said: "We are fortunate to have Zakia as one of our staff team, promoting inclusion and raising awareness of special educational needs and disability issues within hard-to-reach communities in Wales.

"Zakia has brought a wealth of experience to many issues affecting children and families from BME communities."

An MBE medal similar to that awarded to Mrs Ahmed

After learning she had been awarded an MBE, Mrs Ahmed told the BBC News website: "I think this (honour) is recognition of the Muslim women in Wales, that we are participating and doing our bit to empower the communities and empower Welsh society.

"There are so many barriers and we have crossed those barriers.

"A new generation of Muslim girls and Pakistani girls are coming up now. I have shown them that everybody can achieve these things."

Among those honouring Mrs Ahmed at the dinner at City Hall in Cardiff were First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Lord Mayor of Cardiff Jacqui Gasson, AMs Sue Essex and Jane Hutt, and South Wales Police Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Cahill.