Problems of youth and their solutions in the present

scenario
Youth is the hope of our future. In F. Scotts words Everybodys youth is a dream,
a form of chemical madness. But on the whole the real potential of the country
lies in the youth. All those nations who prosper and touch the sky of progress
have an industrious youth who enlighten the world with their new ideas. If we
look into the detail of all the movements and revolutions took place, we come
to know that these were purely brought due to the untiring efforts of the youth
and their passion to change old ideas with the new ones.
Why the role of youth is primary?
Youth is that segment of the society which has to take the responsibility to uplift
the nation on new parameters because they are vigorous, creative, and oozing
with energy. Also their ideas use to be fresh and applicable in the volatile
environment like ours. In every society, youth is considered to be the most
influential group in the socio-political dynamics. They are perceived to be the
makers or breakers of the movements. One vital reason behind that is the group
remains equipped with fresh knowledge, awareness, skills, and tools to do best
than good enough. And the best of all is that Youth smiles without any reason. It
is one of its chiefest charms.
In the developing country like Pakistan, youth is the segment which is highly
deprived of daily necessities which are prerequisite for their growth,
development, progress and prosperity. Pakistan is currently having a youth
population above 100 million aged under 24. They can be an asset for the
country if they are converted into human resources and can become a powerful
engine for the economic development of the country. However, they will be a
liability if their skills are not developed. Youth is available to us as a window of
opportunity; if we want to turn this youth bulge into demographic dividend they
are to be equipped with marketable skills, otherwise soon we will find these
young people crowded in street, desperate and threatening to the peace of the
country. As a large number of incidents are evident that most of the terrorists
and suicide bombers belong to the youth just because of deprivation and
hopelessness.
In Pakistan, 32 percent of the total youth is illiterate; where 9.5 percent are
unemployed and only 6 percent are equipped with technical skills. Due to these

statistics the 32 percent of uneducated youth with no vocational and life skills,
make a lot of individuals who are vulnerable to unemployment or inactivity with
females forming the majority.
An army can have the best weapons in the world, but if it doesnt use them
properly and effectively it loses the war. The same is true for our youth I would be
stupid to deny the fact that our youth in a large percentage of our population
(66% in fact) and that it is full of talented people who have great potential. This
large percentage of potential youth is being wasted just because they are
directionless and there is a big flaw of governments is not to utilize their potential
purposefully. Yet, the problem remains the same if they and their potential isnt
used and channelized effectively there wouldnt be anything to gain but also
there would be much to lose.
The very first and grim challenge that the youth of Pakistan is facing is
education. Approximately seven million people are missing out in primary
education in Pakistan. Enrollment in secondary schools stands at 23% and only
5% of youth hardly makes up to university level. According to emergency
education report 50% of rural school children cannot read a sentence and only
25% can hardly read a story.
The second challenge which is looming on the head of Pakistan is about the
future prospects after education. There is large number of youth still unemployed
after education. According to next generation reports estimates after 10 years
Pakistan would be in need of 36 million more jobs for our population is to
increase 44% over the next 20 years. If such estimates would not be achieved
than another problem which would swallow a large pool of talent like an
anaconda in shape of brain drain.
Thirdly, our education system is such that it does not encourage thorough study
over belief system, building up opinions, and research based ideas. It wholly
depends upon blind faith over readymade ideas provided through spoon
feeding. It ends up in chaos and disturbance among the young generation. This
chaos can be seen on social media that how young ones are taking the ideas
for granted.
How can we coup up with these challenges?
The responsibility for meeting these challenges of course primarily lies with the
state and its leadership, where leadership does not just mean the government,
but it also includes politicians, civil society, and the media. However, it is

unfortunate that many a times the youth has just been reduced to a brand name
that has been exploited by the same. The government holds one event a year,
and then forgets about the youth until the next. Political parties only use young
people for their street power and rallies, never including them in the decision
making process. The media tries to use the youth for ratings it calls them but by
engaging them in rhetorical and conclusion-less debates only. These rhetoric
lead to the hopelessness or the false hope that the youth are engulfed in today.
The government needs to work on education with a solid political will and create
economic opportunities. Political parties need to listen to the youth and not just
exploit them, and the media needs to engage the youth in more productive
debates.
But what about the youths own role?
It is time that the youth realizes its role and tries to carve out its own path. The
time for waiting for messiahs, leaders or anyone for that matter is over and we
have to start addressing our issues ourselves in whatever capacity we can.
Depression in a way is a sign of good, because it shows love and a strong
connection to and concern for the country. However, at the same time
depression coupled with hopelessness and very strong opinions becomes an
impediment to the successful resolution of issues. Opinions are good and we
hold them because they are a means to an end. We all are working towards the
same end, a prosperous Pakistan, then our opinions should be formed after
dialogue and though not inherited or accepted blindly. The youth needs to
come out of this malicious circle, and act. This action doesnt mean coming out
on the streets, protesting and falling prey to empty rhetorics, but on the contrary
it means developing capability, capacity and competence.
Education needs to be the top priority for all those who are lucky enough to get
it. Only after developing themselves will the youth be able to develop Pakistan. I
am not suggesting that students should give up politics or the ongoing situation
of the country but the right priorities, where Strikes (Dharney), talk shows, protests
and political chaskey come only after educational responsibilities.
There is not a second opinion that youth of Pakistan is its biggest asset and it is
up to all of us to make sure it serves its purpose in the best way possible and it is
the responsibility of the government to provide youth with all the necessary
facilities to get education and then to serve Pakistan in the later stage.