Malala Yousafzai, Nobel laureate and education activist, visited her hometown Barkana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the first time since surviving a Taliban attack in 2012. Her visit focused on family, education, and inspiring young girls to pursue learning.
A Long-Awaited Homecoming
Malala, who has lived in the UK since the attack, arrived in Barkana by helicopter with her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and husband, Asser Malik. She reunited with family, visited her ancestral graveyard, and checked on her uncle, Ramazan, who recently had heart surgery.
This visit marked her third return to Pakistan, following trips in 2018 and 2022. In her last visit, she met victims of devastating floods.
Read: Arab Leaders Unite to Counter Trump’s Gaza Plan
Inspiring the Next Generation
One of Malala’s key stops was the school and college she established in 2018. Before its creation, Barkana had no government girls’ college. Today, the institution provides free education to around 1,000 girls.
She toured the school, inspected classrooms, and spoke with students. Encouraging them, she emphasized the power of education in shaping a brighter future. The Malala Fund continues to ensure high-quality education at the institution.
Meeting Fellow Education Advocates
During her visit, Malala also met Shahzad Roy, an education activist running the Shangla Girls School and College under the Zindagi Trust. He briefed her on the facilities and progress of the institution.
Malala’s commitment to education extends beyond Pakistan. In January, she addressed a summit in Islamabad, advocating for girls’ education in Muslim countries. She also highlighted the plight of Afghan women under Taliban rule, calling their treatment a “gender apartheid.”
A Short but Meaningful Visit
After reconnecting with her roots and reaffirming her dedication to girls’ education, Malala departed for Islamabad. Her return to Barkana was brief but deeply symbolic, marking a full-circle moment in her journey from a young activist to a global advocate for education.
Follow us on Google News, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,Whats App, and TikTok for latest updates