- A Pakistani girl Malala Yousufzai, who spoke out for children's rights in the restive Swat valley when it was controlled by the Taliban was conferred the nations new National Peace Prize.
- Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that 13-year-old Yousufzai would be conferred the National Peace Prize and a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh.
- The government made the decision after Yousufzai was nominated for the International Peace Prize for Children in recognition of her services for peace and education.
- She was a victim of the ban imposed by the Taliban on education for girls in the troubled Swat region over two years ago. She wrote about her pain and anguish in a diary for BBC Urdu. Asked why she started her campaign for girls' rights, Yousufzai said the violence in Swat had "a huge impact" on her mind.
- She said she wanted the rest of the world to stop describing the people of Swat as terrorists as they were peaceful and loving.
