Ali* is 29, with a master’s degree, a steady job and a résumé that, on paper, checks every box he was once told mattered. But most evenings, he can’t shake the feeling that he’s fallen behind.

People around him, who are of his age, are getting married, getting promoted or moving abroad for better opportunities. Their social media seems like highlight reels — jetting off to a new country after every two months, front-row seats at sought-after concerts or dining at the city’s newest upscale spot.

Even LinkedIn has become something to avoid — every scroll brings another promotion, another “excited to share” announcement, another reminder that he is lagging behind. He is still trying to save, still living with his parents, still yearning for the life he was promised if he followed the roadmap laid out by the men before him.

His experience is not unique. It is rooted in a deeply ingrained script of being a successful man that’s been passed down through generations.

For generations, success for Pakistani men meant one thing: providing. But as economic realities shift and expectations evolve, many are left feeling like they’re falling short…

For generations, success for Pakistani men meant one thing: providing. But as economic realities shift and expectations evolve, many are left feeling like they’re falling short…

Traditionally, the path to success for men, especially in South Asian households, was pretty straightforward: study hard, build a stable career, get married and provide for your family. This path came with its own set of obstacles, but it was reliable and promised a pay-off. It also offered a clear way to navigate the expectations placed on them by family and society.

At its core was a singular idea: their primary role was to be a provider — an identity that often took precedence over being a husband, a father, a son, or even an individual in their own right. But what happens when the script you inherited no longer fits the world you live in?

“With the economic strain we are all experiencing in Pakistan, the traditional markers of stability and........

© Dawn (Magazines)