As 2025 fades into memory and Pakistan stands on the brink of another year, one thing is unmistakably clear: the country’s youth are exhausted, anxious, and increasingly disillusioned. Long hailed as the nation’s greatest asset and the fulcrum of its future promise, young Pakistanis instead find themselves at the sharp end of chronic economic stagnation, systemic neglect, and social inertia. This is not mere rhetoric; it is the lived reality of millions whose aspirations have collided with a harsh and indifferent socio-economic landscape.

For a generation raised on the promise that education is the passport to success, that promise now rings hollow. Universities continue to produce large numbers of graduates, yet the economy does not generate enough opportunities to absorb them. Official figures show youth unemployment far above the national average, with nearly half of jobseekers aged 15–24 out of work, and female unemployment significantly higher than male. Each year, around two million new entrants join the labour force, but the gap between aspiration and decent employment continues to widen.

PSX sheds 976 points to close at 185,543 points

This crisis is not only about numbers; it is also about the quality of work available. The formal sector remains stagnant, the private sector cautious and risk-averse, and the public sector bloated yet ineffective, offering security in name rather than substance. Many young people are pushed into informal, underpaid, and insecure work that barely covers living costs, let alone provides a path to independence. Persistent inflation and economic volatility have further eroded purchasing power, turning daily survival into a constant struggle.

The mismatch between education and employability is among the most........

© The Nation