YOUTH the Nation’s Asset
Education and knowledge are essential for empowering youth to participate fully in social, economic, and political development. In Pakistan, education is divided into three main streams: public institutions, private institutions, and madrassas. Unfortunately, the quality of education in most public institutions is substandard, despite the constitutional promise of free education for all school-aged children.
The country has 188 educational institutions recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), including public, private, military, and vocational universities. In addition, Pakistan hosts 114 medical colleges and 37 private sector universities.
With over 64% of its population under the age of 29, Pakistan is one of the youngest nations globally. Around 30% of the population is between 15 and 29 years old. Youth should be regarded as the nation’s most valuable resource, rather than being exploited as political workers or volunteers. When guided properly, millennials can bring about significant positive change; otherwise, they risk becoming a burden. Each year, nearly 4 million young people enter the working-age population, yet their potential is often wasted on unimportant activities.
Some youth are heavily involved in promoting political and religious parties on social media, which, if misdirected, can be dangerous. The misuse of technology especially cell phones and the Internet by youth is a growing concern. If their energies are channeled towards the betterment of society, it could lead to the emergence of a new Pakistan.
Currently, nearly 30% of Pakistani youth are illiterate, and approximately 77% leave education to work due to financial pressures. The national education budget remains a mere 2.3% of GDP. Youth unemployment stands at 5.79%. Economically, young people face challenges such as financial constraints, unemployment, poverty, and exploitation in the workforce.
In politics, they are often unaware of their rights and are used as tools for the agendas of political leaders. Socially, they face issues like community conflict, gender discrimination, generational divides, and involvement in crime.
As Goethe said, “The destiny of any nation, at any given time, depends on the opinions of its young men under twenty-five.” According to the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC), 3.8 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working in Pakistan, out of a total of 40 million in this age group.
The future of these children is being sacrificed in the pursuit of survival. The most pressing issue for uneducated youth in Pakistan is child labor, as they are often forced to work at a very young age due to economic hardship. Pakistan’s problem is not a lack of social planning but a severe deficiency in implementing these plans.
