Peshawar: The 16th birthday of Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls` right to education, was observed as `Malala Day` on Friday in Pakistan and across the world as the young activist gears up to address the UN General Assembly.
Seminars, conferences and other ceremonies were held across Pakistan wherein scholars, educationists and analysts participated and pay tribute to Malala who fought for girl`s education in Swat valley against the Taliban.
However, the day went unnoticed in her home district Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where more girls than ever are in school since she was attacked by the Taliban.
Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which is in power in the province, has not organised any special ceremony regarding Malala day in her home district Swat.
The Awami National Party arranged a walk on the occasion in Mingora City, Swat district and vowed to take forward the peace mission of the young activist.
People of the Swat said they were expecting that the provincial government and civil administration will arrange memorable ceremony where they can express their thoughts about the "Daughter of Swat".
When contacted PTI lawmaker from Swat Murad Saeed said that we can never forget Malala`s services for child rights and in a very teenage she was against militant policies.
He said our party is struggling hard to empower women in the society and very soon the government will introduce a new system of quality education in the province.
Malala has become a global icon of the campaign for girls` right to education and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
She has been named as Time magazine`s one of the most influential people in 2013 and has reportedly secured a USD 3 million contract for a book on her life story.
"This frail young girl who was seriously injured has become such a powerful symbol not just for the girls` right to education, but for the demand that we do something about it immediately," former British prime minister Gordon Brown, UN envoy on education who organised World Malala Day, said.
"There will be no compromise with any religious extremist who says girls should not go to school or stop going to school at 10," he told CBS News.
On the occasion of her birthday, the United Nations (UN) has announced to mark the `Malala Day` as UN Youth Assembly coincides with her birthday.
PTI
