Mian Shah

Professional Summary

I hold an academic background in business administration, with a Bachelor’s degree from Concord University and a Master’s degree from Marshall University in West Virginia. My education not only strengthened my understanding of finance, marketing, and management but also elevated my English writing and communication skills to a professional level. Alongside my business career, I have developed extensive experience as a translator and interpreter in Pashto, Urdu, and English.

I began my professional career in Pakistan in 1985, working in a financial institution for 13 years. During this period, I held positions in loan approvals, relationship management, and loan recovery. These roles taught me how to communicate effectively, analyze complex information, and build trust with diverse clients.

From 2009 to 2012, I worked with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in Northern Virginia, serving as a Pashto and Urdu translator/interpreter for the Office of Military Commission Prosecution at the Pentagon. My responsibilities included prioritizing and translating sensitive documents, gisting material in Urdu and Pashto, and interpreting audio recordings with accuracy and cultural awareness. I also contributed to quality control, ensuring translations were precise and consistent. Additionally, I assisted Department of Justice lawyers by translating audio materials related to the trial of a Pashto-speaking prisoner.

In 2013, I worked with Kelly Services as a remote Pashto interpreter, supporting Afghan immigrants in the United States. I completed 80 hours of medical terminology training, which improved my ability to interpret for patients and healthcare providers. Beyond professional assignments, I have engaged in humanitarian interpretation. Since the early 1980s, I have volunteered to help Afghan refugee children learn basic English vocabulary. Using Pashto as the medium, I taught essential health and daily-life terms in ways that were culturally accessible.

Currently, I work as a self-employed interpreter and translator, offering services across various contexts. I am fluent in three languages: Pashto, my mother tongue; Urdu, the national language of Pakistan; and English, which I mastered through my U.S. education. This linguistic and cultural versatility enables me to bridge communication gaps effectively and with sensitivity.

Key Skills

• Document Translation – Pashto ⇄ English, Urdu ⇄ English, Pashto ⇄ Urdu
• Simultaneous & Consecutive Interpretation – legal, medical, and community settings
• Medical Terminology – 80 hours of training (English ⇄ Pashto)
• Quality Control – reviewing and refining translated material for accuracy
• Cultural Mediation – ensuring linguistic accuracy with cultural relevance
• Humanitarian Support – volunteer interpreter and educator for refugee children
• Multilingual Fluency – Pashto (native), Urdu (fluent), English (advanced)