PESHAWAR: Ahmed Nawaz, a survivor of the horrific Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack of December 16, 2014, has been awarded the British Empire Medal by King Charles in recognition of his work to advance youth empowerment and global peace.
Ahmed’s story is extraordinary: he was injured in the attack, which killed 132 students and many teachers. He has experienced lifelong hardship, but he has not abandoned his commitment to advocacy for youth empowerment and peace.
His dedication to empowerment and peace for youth has brought him international recognition, including being elected by students to be the President of the Oxford University Students’ Union in March 2022, a position that Benazir Bhutto also held in the 1980s.
Ahmed sees his life and love for Pakistan as vital to his faith. After the attack, the Government of Pakistan sponsored Ahmed’s medical treatment in the UK in 2015, where he was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Ahmed then continued schooling in London, where he showed great resilience and determination.
Ahmed’s story is a powerful example of why we should continually promote peace, education, and empowerment for youth and children.
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