As the global economy entered the 21st century, shifted and immersed in changes, the significance of youth has emerged as peculiarly crucial. This is even more so the case for Pakistan which, despite having a primarily young population and a sprouting opportunity to turn this into an economic strength, is currently failing to do so. As the country continues to face the impact and challenges and prospects in the economy, fortunes of the youth becomes instrumental in laying a solid foundation towards realizing prosperity for the country.
Pakistan is a young nation; in excess of more than half of the citizenry is within the age of 30 years. this demographic dividend is in fact an asset –fulness or a demographic bonus as well as a challenge. On one hand, having young and a growing workforce means that you can be able to harness the forces of growth, innovation and productivity. , while on the other hand, if not well directed it can bring about high rate of unemployment, under employment and social vices. The great challenge in Pakistan therefore is how to guide this youthful energy to workers who will engender an economic revolution.
Education and skill-development are among the key tasks that the youth of Pakistan could help perform in this new economic revolution. Education has a quality and availably effect on youth employment and self-employment outcomes. Pakistan’s education system has also had an ample of problems like old aged curriculum; unfurnished facilities, and imbalance in the schooling facilities. However, the issues above are the reasons why the current reform and various initiatives of vocational education and training, digital literacy, and STEM education have emerged.
Education investment prepares young Pakistan’s with relevant human resource capital for today’s type of economy. Technical and vocational training programs play a significant role in ensuring that there is closure of the skills deficiency and supply the market with qualified personnel. For instance, the courses in information technology, engineering and digital marketing assist the youth to adopt to new markets that are developing in the job market. Also, it is crucial to encourage preoccupations with learning and development and flexibility because of the high pace and penetrativeness of technology
. Self employment is now officially acknowledged as one of the important sources of motivation for economic growth, worldwide, and Pakistani youth for this cause have shown a remarkable zeal. Thus the growth of the number small business most of which are in the form of start up business entrepreneurial spirit being championed by the young people is testimony of a diversified and dynamic economy. Some of the government schemes include, the Kamyab Jawan Program where if young people can be supported financially and be empowered with both human and financial capital for the growth of their businesses. They are also prudent in the context of creating proper positive sentiment in the establishment of a powerful and viable startup community that will contribute to the increase of positions and economy.
It is noteworthy, today’s youth including in Pakistan is equally being creative and innovative in technology, agricultural as well as social businesses. Speaking of the former, there is the National Incubation Center; other sources include technical and entrepreneurial communities present in various hubs. Thus, using technologies and turning to the non-trivial ideas, such businesspeople not only contribute to the economy’s development but also help to address social issues.
Besides, the economic aspect, the youth participate in activity related to citizenship and the society. Participation in the activities that seek to increase community participation, cause-related committees, and the fight against injustice may lead to formation of welfare society. Targets therefore from young people in areas like sustainability and human right, and health, can help to supplement the main economic goals of developing a better society.
This has become a norm for youths in the societies or in the main organizations to be formulating policies in the organization. For instance, there is proliferation of activism by youth groups; whereby youths take active responsibilities in climate change fights or pro-feminism or change of methods in education processes. When contributing to the solving of social issues, being active in society, the youth are contributing to the construction of stable conditions for the economic development.
However, several issues limit the achievement of the youth’s central role in Pakistan’s economic revolution. High unemployment rates and high unemployment rate among the youths and especially the college graduates are evidence of the education market maldistribution. Of equal concern concerns related to access to capital and markets, insufficient infrastructure, and regulatory barriers are also present for young people as well. Furthermore, factors such as social and cultural may sometimes limit the young people and more so the female youthful people as well as other cultures.
Solving these issues thus needs the participation of government policy, private involvement and the support of the society. The government must arrest the tendency to violate policies and put measures in place that encourage innovation and discourage bureaucracy by supporting young startup companies. Moreover, measures for the promotion of gender and diversibility are crucial for the common result of the open and reasonable distribution of the accruing yield among all colors of juniors.
Aiming at the significance of youths in the economic development, there are government and private sector endeavours to entrust youths. The current government of Pakistan has come up with measures to promote entrepreneurship, for example, grants for new ventures, affordable credit, and business development sessions. Besides, collaborations with the international organizations and the NGOs offer more assistance in terms of support and knowledge.
Private players too have immense role in internships, apprenticeship and other related career development programs. Evidently, partnerships with businesses in the education sector can assist in development of conformity between the curricula and the market prices and along with this assist students to gain vital work experience. The tightly linked triad of the government, the private sector and educational establishments are capable of developing and stimulating the potential of Pakistan’s young population.
In this context the part that youth of the country entail in the process of economic revolution is quite challenging and complex. Since more than half of the population of Pakistan consists of persons below the age of 30, there is strength in this ‘youth bulge’ for the development of economy. Ensuring youths have access to education and skills, promoting business and innovation, and voting, the youths have the potential to bring change for the nation.
But is only possible if one is able to overcome existing obstacles nowadays namely unemployment, resource access and societal restrictions. It requires collaborative efforts in Equal partnership of the government, Private sector and Civil society organizations to foster youth development and to add on the economic growth of the country.
The factual sociopolitical context of Pakistan today is that it is in the process of transitioning to an economy that is primarily service-based, and therefore the increased inclusion of youth in the development of the country’s future will be especially important.
The Author, Muhammad Momin Malik is a distinguished leader with roles as President of the Tariq Aziz Quiz Society, Vice President of the Young Ravians Club, and Executive Member of both the Shamshad Ahmed Khan Society for Civics and the Dr. Imdad Hussain Society for English. His diverse involvement in these organizations underscores his commitment to educational and civic development.
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