Every year, we hear that young people are the future of Pakistan. As a university student, I find this encouraging, but I also believe it raises an important question: are we creating enough opportunities for young people to actually build that future? Pakistan has an exceptionally young population, with around 64 per cent of the country’s people under the age of 30. This should be one of our greatest strengths. Yet many students around me are worried about what comes after graduation. Having a degree does not always mean having the practical skills, experience or professional connections required by the job market.
The problem cannot be solved by the government alone, nor can educational institutions or young people be blamed entirely. Universities need stronger links with industry, employers should provide more meaningful internships and entry-level opportunities and students themselves must be willing to learn skills beyond their degree programmes.
Government initiatives for skills development, entrepreneurship and youth support are steps in the right direction, but their real success should be judged by outcomes: how many young people gain useful skills, find sustainable employment or successfully build businesses.
Muhammad Jaffar
Karachi
