Malala meets PM on sidelines of General Assembly

Pakistan’s first Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai on Friday urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to include emergency schooling for children, especially girls, in the humanitarian aid being provided to flood-hit citizens of the country and to keep people safe from resurgent terrorists in the scenic valleys.

She said this during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday after his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

In a series of tweets afterwards, Malala said she discussed the urgent needs of people affected by floods in Pakistan.

“We are calling on the international community to ease debt pressure and provide immediate humanitarian support,” she said, echoing the demands put forward by Prime Minister Shehbaz and his administration during the UNGA week.

Today I met with Prime Minister @CMShehbaz to discuss the urgent needs of people affected by floods in Pakistan. We are calling on the international community to ease debt pressure and provide immediate humanitarian support. pic.twitter.com/ZwAztdBgnA

— Malala (@Malala) September 23, 2022

Noting that the floods have destroyed tens of thousands of schools, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without an education, she urged the premier to include funding for emergency schooling, especially for girls, in all humanitarian aid considerations.

The floods destroyed tens of thousands of schools, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without education. Humanitarian aid must include funding for emergency schooling, especially for girls.

— Malala (@Malala) September 23, 2022

“I also shared my concern about the reappearance of Pakistani Taliban in my hometown of Swat valley and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province,” she said, adding, “Our people cannot face more terrorism and displacement — they need protection. The right to seek justice and live in peace belongs to everyone in Pakistan.”

I also shared my concern about the reappearance of Pakistani Taliban in my hometown of Swat Valley & other parts of KP province. Our people cannot face more terrorism & displacement — they need protection. The right to seek justice & live in peace belongs to everyone in Pakistan.

— Malala (@Malala) September 23, 2022

Malala gained worldwide recognition when her essays in favor of girl’s education as a teenager drew the ire of the Taliban, who shot her in the face and left her to die.

Malala also raised the issue of women’s freedoms in Afghanistan with PM Shehbaz.

“I asked the Prime Minister to put more pressure on the Taliban to allow Afghan girls to go to school and women to go to work,” she said, reminding that Afghanistan is the only country where girls are banned from secondary school.

“Pakistan must stand for women’s rights and girls’ education,” she urged.

Finally, I asked the Prime Minister to put more pressure on the Taliban to allow Afghan girls to go to school and women to go to work. Today Afghanistan is the only country where girls are banned from secondary school. Pakistan must stand for women’s rights and girls’ education.

— Malala (@Malala) September 23, 2022