By: Shahzad Naveed
SWAT: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai made a brief but impactful visit to her ancestral village of Barkana Shahpur in the Shangla district on Wednesday morning. She arrived via helicopter from Islamabad, accompanied by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and her husband, Aser Malik.
The visit was marked by a warm and emotional welcome from her family and local schoolchildren. Upon her arrival, Malala took the opportunity to reconnect with relatives and visit her childhood home, spending time in the place filled with many of her early memories.
Malala visited the home of her maternal uncle, Faiz Mohammad, and later paid her respects at their ancestral graveyard, offering prayers at her maternal grandmother’s grave.
A significant part of her visit included a tour of the Malala Yousafzai School, a facility she established for orphaned and underprivileged girls. There, she engaged with students, listened to their concerns, and offered her support. The students shared their experiences, and Malala took the time to address some of their challenges.
Malala also participated in an event at Shahpur Girls High School, where she interacted with students and faculty.
Her presence was a moment of great pride for the local community.
This visit highlighted Malala’s deep connection to her roots and her ongoing commitment to girls’ education and empowerment. After a day filled with emotional reunions and inspiring interactions, Malala departed from Shangla, heading back to Islamabad, leaving behind a message of hope and determination for the future.
Malala Yousafzai’s visit to her hometown has been celebrated as a powerful reminder of the importance of education and the global impact of her advocacy for girls’ rights.
This was her first visit to the region since the attack in Swat in 2012 when she was targeted while returning home from school in a van with her classmates.
Read also: KP to start its own super league: CM Gandapur
