ISLAMABAD: Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and education activist, said on Friday that she is planning a permanent return to Pakistan after completion of her education.
“My plan is to return to Pakistan as this is my country. I have the same right on the country as any another Pakistani,” Malala, who is pursuing a degree in philosophy, politics and economics at the Oxford University, told a private TV channel in an interview.
“We want to work for the education of children and make it possible that every girl in Pakistan receives a high-level education and can fulfil her dreams and become part of society,” she said, while reiterating her mission of providing education to the children.
When asked if she sees a difference in the Pakistan of 2012 and 2018, Malala said, “Certainly there is a difference and things are improving. People in our country are uniting for a better Pakistan. People are active, which is a very good thing.”
Malala said she appreciated the role of the then chief of army staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani in her timely treatment. “My treatment here [Pakistan] was by army doctors and if they had not done my surgery in time I would not be here today.” She also thanked Pakistan Army and government for the role they played in her return to the county, adding that without them this would not have been possible. Malala returned to Pakistan in a surprise visit in the early hours of Thursday. She met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and addressed a gathering at the PM House. “I am very happy and still can’t believe that this is happening. In the past five years I had always dreamt of stepping foot in my country,” Malala had said as she slightly broke down speaking about her return.
Published in Daily Times, March 31st 2018.