PM Nawaz meets Malala in Oslo

PM Nawaz assures Nobel peace prize winner the government is determined to improve quality of education

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government was determined to improve quality of education and ensure gender equality in Pakistan.

“Significant steps have been taken for the promotion of rights of women, children and minorities,” he said, during his meeting with Malala Yousufzai in Oslo on Wednesday.

According to a statement, he appreciated the 17-year-old's efforts to promote education, saying government was working towards increasing education spending up to 4 per cent of the GDP.

The government has made a 'strong move' to eliminate terrorism from the country, added Nawaz.

Malala, Pakistani prime minister agree that Pakistan must make great strides for education of nation's children. pic.twitter.com/hTZOVkM1Zi

— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) July 8, 2015

Read: Cut ‘8 days of military spending’ for universal education, says Malala

PHOTO: PID

“The sacrifices of those who suffered at the hands of terrorists would not go in vain,” he said, adding that terrorists are “now on the run”.

“Their sanctuaries and hideouts have been wiped out,” he added.

The prime minister once again congratulated Malala on being the recipient of the Nobel Peace Price in 2014 and regarded her the pride of Pakistan.

Malala appreciated the premier’s efforts and said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will go a long way in bringing prosperity to the people of Pakistan.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner said she had a dream of serving Pakistan and do something for the underprivileged children of the country.

In Oslo, Malala tells Pakistani prime minister "It is my responsibility as a Pakistani to return to Pakistan and help people there."

— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) July 8, 2015

Earlier on Tuesday, Malala urged world leaders to cut “eight days of military spending” to give all children access to 12 years of free education.

Read: What has Malala done for Pakistan?: 8 popular anti-Malala arguments answered

About $39 billion would be needed each year to fund the schooling, according to an estimate from the laureate’s non-profit group the Malala Fund.

“It may appear as a huge number but the reality is it is not much at all,” Malala said at a UN education summit in Oslo, as she returned to the city for the first time since picking up the Peace Prize with child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi in December last year.

Malala, who in 2012 survived after being shot in the head for her support of girls’ schools, met in June with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to discuss the coming package of official Sustainable Development Goals the United Nations plans to release later this year.