The article begins by discussing the significance of Pakistan and Pakistani identity for the youth of the country. This was evident during the recent Independence Day celebrations, which were marked by a lack of enthusiasm, muted celebrations, and expressions of disappointment and discontent on the faces of the youth. Although more than seven decades have passed since Pakistan gained independence, there are still numerous ambiguities regarding whether the nation and its people are truly free, both mentally and physically.
The country is currently going through one of the worst periods in its history, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Pakistan is on life support. Fertile lands are rapidly becoming barren, and there is no one to take responsibility for the losses. When reflecting on how Pakistan reached its current state of emergency, one is met with a series of problems and further complications, with no clear solutions in sight. In such a climate, how can the youth of Pakistan dream of a bright future when their present is filled with despair, and their past is a long story of struggle?
Over the past decade, 7.3 million Pakistani youth have left the country in search of a better life in developed nations, with millions more ready to follow. Those who have already left did so without any regret, and they have no desire to return. It is painful to realize that these young people saw their country as an obstacle to their personal growth and chose to sever their roots as soon as they had the opportunity. The question of whether it was easy to cut ties with their homeland and break their connection with Pakistan is as painful as its answer. What has this country given to its youth that it expects loyalty, wisdom, compromise, and sacrifice in return?
The article highlights several issues facing the youth, such as the high cost of quality education, a lack of respectable job opportunities even after hard-earned education, preference given to the offspring of influential people over talented youth, and the scarcity of scholarships for poor and underprivileged students. Despite numerous promises, the ban on student unions remains in place, and the youth are underrepresented in government. These and many other problems have surrounded the young people of this country. Pakistani youth are the unsung heroes whose hard work and dedication have never been recognized as they should be. Time and again, they are shown green signals through a few youth programs, which later disappear into closed files. The youth of Pakistan are deeply frustrated with their rulers, and they are justified in their anger.
A new problem has recently emerged, adding to the existing woes of the youth. The entire country’s internet system went down due to an unknown fault. We live in an age known as the “Information Technology” era, where miracles happen through the use of the internet. In this miraculous IT world, Pakistani youth are also making significant strides through their tireless efforts. However, this journey has proven to be difficult for them, much like other challenges, due to issues such as frequent power outages, the high cost of fast internet, the necessity of expensive UPS, inverters, and solar panels to ensure uninterrupted electricity. Even after all these efforts, the lack of internet availability raises the question of how the youth can remain hopeful about their future in this country.
The problem of slow or unavailable internet is not only affecting the jobs of the country’s youth but is also causing further damage to the already struggling economy, leading to billions of dollars in losses and further tarnishing the country’s already poor reputation. Due to this issue, several multinational companies are seriously considering relocating their offices from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates. The Pakistani passport is already viewed with little respect globally, and now, due to unreliable internet, Pakistani youth are losing both their jobs and their reputation in the international digital market.
The article also touches on the rampant crime on the streets of Pakistan and the ineffectiveness of authorities who make empty promises and false statements regarding public safety. The future of the country, its youth, is left to deal with robbers and thieves daily, losing their lives, valuable possessions, and hard-earned money while the police stand by and watch. The author questions the direction in which Pakistan is heading. The dream was to become an Asian Tiger, but a series of poor decisions have plunged the country into never-ending debt. What is the fault of this country’s young generation that their grievances about Pakistan have never been heard? When they wanted to leave this land, no one tried to stop them. Have they become such a heavy burden on the country that getting rid of them seems like a blessing to the rulers?