Nobel Laureate and global girls’ education rights advocate Malala Yousafzai will visit Pakistan to attend as a special guest a two-day global summit on girls’ education scheduled from January 11 to January 12 in Islamabad.
Federal Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani confirmed that Malala will be attending the summit before she moves back to London.
The summit aims to address the challenges and opportunities in advancing girls’ education across Muslim communities worldwide; foster dialogue; and find actionable solutions to address the challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the summit as a keynote speaker, reaffirming commitment to promoting both education and gender equality for girls.
The participants and panelists will share success stories.
Over 150 global dignitaries, including ministers, ambassadors, scholars and academia from around 44 Muslim and friendly countries will attend the summit.
Representatives from UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank will also attend the moot.
The conference will conclude by a formal signing ceremony of the Islamabad Declaration, outlining the shared commitment of Muslim community to empower girls through education, paving the way for inclusive and sustainable education.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the conference will be attended by all four provincial education ministers as well as the chief ministers.
He said that Pakistan values the traditions of Afghan society, adding that they have also invited the Afghan government to participate in the conference. “We are still far behind in terms of education and employment,” said Siddiqui.
Malala last visited Pakistan in October 2022. She was just 15 years old when the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan shot her in the head after she raised voice about the closure of schools in Swat.
