“I have been dreaming about returning to my country and stepping on my soil since I left,” she said.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai returned to Pakistan on a brief visit in the early hours of Thursday, five-and-a-half years after she was critically injured in a Taliban attack in her hometown Swat.

“Today I am very happy. After five-and-a-half years, I have stepped on my soil again. I can’t believe that this is happening. I have been dreaming about returning to my country since I left. When I travel to cities like London or New York I always imagined that I am driving in Islamabad or Karachi ,” she said.

She overcame tears to describe her experience of the past few years. “Although I’m just 20, I have seen a lot. Everything was happening — living in a beautiful area then attack happened and I left the country. I would have never left the country had the doctors not advised to get treatment in the U.K.,” she said.

Ms. Yousufzai said she always dreamt of returning to the country and living a peaceful life. “Pakistan’s future is with young generation and education. We have to work together for that. We have invested more than 6 million dollars in girl education in Pakistan. I hope we can all join our hands to ensure that all of the children get education and women can stand up on their feet,” she said amid applause from the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members.

Accompanied by her father Ziauddin and younger brother, Ms. Yousufzai arrived past midnight at Islamabad airport. She will remain in Pakistan for four days.

One of the most prominent Pakistanis in world: PM

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Ms. Yousufzai is one of the most prominent Pakistanis in the world. “I would say we are honoured to have you back and hope that you return permanently. We will provide you all the security you need,” he said.

Ms. Yousufzai emphasised need for education in Pakistan. “I will work for improving education in my country, particularly girls’ education as women should stand on their feet,” she said.

Ms. Yousufzai, along with her friends, was attacked in the Swat Valley in 2012. She was shot in the head and face but survived after she was taken to the U.K. in an air ambulance.

She was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014. She has established the Malala Foundation, which works for the promotion of girls education worldwide.