CHITRAL, Nov 12: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education minister Sardar Hussain Babak on Monday demanded a Nobel Prize for female education campaigner Malala Yousufzai, who was recently shot by Taliban in her hometown Swat.

Addressing a meeting of teachers in Drosh area of Chitral district here, Mr Babak said the world had recognised the efforts of Malala for education by celebrating Malala Day on Nov 10.

He said Malala represented Pakistani children and had become their icon and that she had proved that education was the top priority of the people of the province.

Mr Babak said schools and seminaries were sacred places because they spread knowledge and enlightened the people on how to progress.

“For progress, we must attach the due importance to these educational institutions,” he said.

The minister claimed that his government had promoted education in the province by following the principles of Bacha Khan, who had founded schools in the area in 1920s considering that progress was not possible without education.

He said 25,000 laptops would be distributed to high-achievers in examinations.

Meanwhile, provincial ANP president Afrasiab Khattak told a public meeting in Drosh area that his party didn’t need to form coalition with other political parties for the next elections in the province, as it was popular with the people.

He asked the people of Chitral to support ANP for more development work in the area.

Mr Khattak said ANP was not the party of Pashto speaking people only and rather, it was a platform for those wanting brotherhood, peace, progress and prosperity in the area.