Malala Returns to Pakistan for Global Summit on Girls’ Education
News Desk
Islamabad: Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and global advocate for girls’ education, returned to Pakistan on Saturday after more than two years to attend a two-day international summit on girls’ education in Islamabad.
Expressing her deep emotions upon arrival, she said, “I’m truly honoured, overwhelmed, and happy to be back in Pakistan,” highlighting the significance of her return to her homeland.
The summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, brings together representatives from Muslim-majority countries to address the ongoing educational crisis faced by millions of girls worldwide. Malala, a fierce advocate for girls’ education, is scheduled to deliver a powerful address on Sunday, where she plans to emphasize the urgent need to protect girls’ rights to education.
Ahead of the event, she shared her thoughts on X, stating, “I will speak about protecting rights for all girls to go to school, and why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women & girls.”
The Afghan Taliban government was invited to attend the summit but did not respond, underscoring the stark reality that Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are banned from attending school and university.
Malala’s commitment to education and women’s rights is deeply personal. Having survived an assassination attempt by the Pakistani Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls’ education, Malala’s journey from the streets of Swat to becoming the youngest Nobel laureate is a testament to her unwavering dedication to education for all girls. Despite her global acclaim, she has only returned to Pakistan a handful of times since the attack.
The summit, with its focus on safeguarding girls’ education, not only highlights the challenges faced by women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime but also serves as a platform for Malala and other world leaders to unite in addressing educational inequalities and advocating for systemic change.
