Muhammad Saleem

Proper youth guidance at the early stage is essential to produce job creators and not mere job seekers. Dr Muhammad Ashraf, an educationist, told WealthPK that the current youth guidance is, unfortunately, fragmented and not aligned with the emerging challenges. “Without adequate guidance, we won’t be able to harness the potential of our youth, even though their sheer numbers present an incredible opportunity for economic growth and innovation,” he said.

“Youth guidance is impacting our overall economic trajectory. We have a lot of work to do to effectively tap this demographic dividend,” he said. “The demands of the modern economy are different. However, our education system is not adequately meeting these requirements.” He said that many students didn’t have the practical skills or business thinking needed to be successful. “This is one reason why so many young people have no jobs.

As a result, many smart and talented people are leaving Pakistan to find better opportunities in other countries.” “Sensing the changing scenario, we have to integrate practical skills into our curricula and foster critical thinking rather than focusing solely on rote learning. Effective guidance needs to start much earlier so that we can truly harness this demographic dividend,” he suggested.

Ashraf said that mentorship is absolutely valuable for young people, as the guidance of experienced professionals can guide them to navigate the initial hurdles of business – from developing viable business plans to understanding market dynamics. Unfortunately, he added youth were facing a significant quality mentorship gap, and educational institutions must step up to bridge it. 

The educationist warned that without strong supportive networks, it would be challenging to motivate youth to become entrepreneurs. He said currently, most youngsters were job seekers with little desire to become job creators. “The fear of failure in society discourages youth from taking risks in business,” he added. “It is the need of the hour to create an ecosystem where failure is seen as a learning opportunity, and where young entrepreneurs have access to incubators, seed funding, and a strong network of advisers,” he said.

Hasnain Haider, a student, talking to WealthPK said that though he had graduated, he didn’t have any practical knowledge that can help him earn a living. He said that the majority of students only gained theoretical knowledge, with no clear direction for shaping their future. He said that proper youth guidance is essential for tackling emerging challenges and shaping Pakistan’s economic future.

"We have a young population – a demographic dividend that holds immense potential – but we need to tap into this treasure through proper training. Otherwise, we will not be able to overcome significant challenges that lie ahead,” he said. Shehryar Ahmed of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), talking to WealthPK said that youth were their future and it is the duty of institutions to train them to tackle emerging challenges so that they can put the nation on the path of prosperity.

He said that a couple of weeks ago, the Directorate of Financial Assistance and University Advancement of UAF in collaboration with the Civil Services Academy, Lahore, organised a programme for students. He said that Farhan Aziz Khawaja, director general of the academy, strongly encouraged students to test their abilities by appearing in the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination. The students were given guidance on how to prepare themselves for competitive examinations, regardless of whether they succeed or not.

Shehryar said that it is vital to train students to think out of the box so that they can build the required capabilities to overcome challenges and contribute to the country’s development. He said that new challenges are emerging every day in every field, and youth must rise to tackle these issues by sharpening their abilities. Shehryar said relying on conventional approaches would no longer work in light of the changing scenario, and innovative thinking patterns are crucial for excelling in life.

Credit: INP-WealthPk