Photo courtesy: Malala Fund official Twitter

Education and rights activist Malala Yousafzai has urged her fellow Pakistanis to speak up for their rights, as she celebrates her 20th birthday today, July 12 ? which has been declared as ?Malala Day? by the United Nations.

In a special message delivered through Geo News, Malala has called on her countrymen and women to pay the utmost importance to education.

?On my birthday today.. this is my message to all Pakistanis: believe in yourself, speak up for your rights, [acquire] education because it is very important for the future of Pakistan. It is only through education you can change the future of your country and take it forward,? she said.

?My message to all parents is, if you can give something [precious] to your children, it is education. Through education they can progress and contribute to their country and family.?

Malala also demanded that the government give priority to education.

?I ask the government to spend on education, to fulfill its promise of allocating 4% budget to education. The government must ensure that all children are given the opportunity to acquire education, so that they can make their country proud.?

Birthday tributes have poured in for the young Nobel laureate from around the world. In his message on Malala Day, Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif said Malala Yousafzai has set an example of bravery and courage for all women.

He said that the struggle of Malala for the promotion of education and elimination of terrorism is a beacon-house, and that she thwarted conspiracies hatched to push the country into darkness and backwardness.

Malala has emerged as an ambassador of peace and knowledge all over the world, he added.

Ziauddin Yousafzai?, Malala?s father, tweeted picture of an adorable birthday card written by her mother.

Last week, Malala announced she would be celebrating her 20th birthday with internally displaced girls from conflict-ridden areas in the Middle East on her Girl Power Trip.

Malala, who was shot by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists in 2012 in her hometown of Swat, Pakistan, joined Twitter only a few days ago where she informed her followers about her plans.

Born on July 12, 1997, Malala rose to fame by authoring a blog as a young student while Swat was under occupation of militants in 2007.