In a country, where 63% of the total population is concentrated below the age of twenty five years, formulation of political policies that support the youth are in one word-essential! The proportion of younger generation in the country is at its peak. While this would generally be something positive for any other country because it would mean that there would be presence of a larger working class; for a developing country like ours the situation is quite alarming.
Due to the slow economic growth coupled with inefficient political policies on behalf of the government for the future of our youth, Pakistan now faces another major concern. We do not have enough employment opportunities for our massive younger generation. In November 2009, the New York Times (NYT) while citing a report, commissioned by the British Council, wrote that “Pakistan will face a ‘demographic disaster’ if it does not address the needs of its young generation, the largest in country’s history, whose views reflect a deep disillusionment with the government and democracy.” Even though, this change in the country’s demographics can serve as a ‘demographic gift, ’in the form of a surge in the relative size of the working-age population and the youth within the working-age population for Pakistan, mismanagement on government’s behalf can turn this blessing into a disaster. Unemployment along with inflation, corruption and lack of power and gas facilities can force this huge population to exhort to extreme measures resulting in an overall increase in the countries unrest. Unemployment is not only an issue for the uneducated lot but also for many educated people. There is a huge pressure in the job market as there are lesser employment opportunities and greater number of graduates. Also, an inability to find employment for long period creates a sense of vulnerability, uselessness and idleness among young people and can heighten the attraction of engaging in illegal activities. There is also a proven link between youth unemployment and social exclusion. In both rural and urban areas, young people who complete education and are from socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds are likely to make the transition to work more smoothly, while the economically disadvantaged and socially excluded may face greater difficulties. Furthermore, employability of Pakistani youth in decent livelihood activities is also not very promising. Very few opportunities exist in the formal sector, which has been shirking for some time, for educated youth. Given this situation, the informal sector stands as a leading absorber of the labor force in the country. However, socio-cultural factors exert a strong influence on individuals' career choices in Pakistan. There are powerful norms around what economic roles an individual can or cannot perform based on his or her wealth, education, caste and gender. By and large, our society is averse to manual work and jobs involving "sweat and grease" are considered undesirable. Such perceptions are particularly strong among the relatively wealthy and educated, who prefer "clean jobs" (desk-based, clerical, supervisory or administrative positions). It has often been observed that the educated can remain voluntarily jobless for long periods of time in their search for the right form of employment. Thus, this further complicates the issue of unemployment in the country.
This youth potential if properly harnessed can bring a socio-economic revolution in Pakistan. All over the world youth is being given prime importance in future policy making due to rapidly evolving knowledge base; new and emerging technologies; ever growing potential of social and economic networking in modern times; and livelihood challenges .Thus, proper and timely management by the government can turn this ‘nightmare on the street’ to prosperity.
