Malala is symbol of courage: Pakistan minister

Pakistan minister Sardar Shah Jehan Yousuf Friday hailed teenage activist Malala Yousafzai as a “symbol of courage” and said she would be back home soon.

“Malala came out at a time when schools were shut. She is a symbol of courage,” Yousuf, Pakistan’s minister for education and training, told IANS on the sidelines of an international education summit being held here.

“Her recovery is good. She will be back in Pakistan soon,” he said.

Asked if Pakistan government would consider making her a brand ambassador, Yousuf said: “We will think about it only once she is back.”

Malala, the 15-year-old who became a symbol of resistance of Taliban’s anti girl education stand, was shot in the head Oct 9. She came to prominence in 2009 at the age of 11, when she started writing a diary for BBC Urdu about life under the Taliban.

Malala is currently undergoing treatment in Britain and recovering. The Taliban said they had targeted her for “promoting secularism”.

The two-day E9 summit, which began Friday, represents nine of the world’s most populous countries – Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. The forum is aimed at meeting the challenges of education in these countries.

Photo  : AFP