Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf visited Malala's family at a heavily guarded military hospital in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday, where doctors were considering whether to send her abroad for treatment.
"The next 48 hours will be critical," Ashraf told reporters.
Taliban targeted Malala, who was shot in the head while riding in a school bus on Tuesday in Mingora, because, he said, "they were scared of the power of her vision."
"She is the true face of Pakistan," he added.