Pakistan is said to be a nation that is perched on a demographic dividend. Its population is not only younger than 30 years of age, but almost two-thirds, which, on paper, should be an advantage for growth, innovations, and increased prosperity. Nevertheless, demographics is not fate. A youth bulge is easily transformed into a burden on the populace, particularly without jobs, skills, and productivity. The red flags are already present in the case of Pakistan.

As the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics says, over two-thirds of the Pakistan population is below the age of 30, and approximately two and a half to two million youths join the working-age group annually. However, the economy is generating relatively lower formal productive employment. The outcome is a further discrepancy between aims and chance, one that threatens to cut major development, stability, and societal integrity.

The rate of participation of the labor force in Pakistan is also low when compared with the rest of the region, particularly among youth and women. Formal statistics indicate that youth (15-24) unemployment stands at approximately 11-12%, although headline figures are deceptive because of underemployment and informality. According to PBS labor force surveys, more than 70 percent of the employed youths are working in informal or low-productivity industries.

This implies that there are millions of young Pakistani citizens who are technically employed but economically idle—they earn too little, learn too little, and contribute too little to the development of the economy in the long run. Pakistan has one of the lowest estimates of employment elasticity of growth by........

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