Enhancing youth employability in Pakistan: A urgent call to action

Youth activity is crucial for the economic development, prosperity, and success of any country, primarily due to the availability of resources in various fields of education and employment. However, Pakistan faces a stark contrast in this regard. The country struggles with a lack of resources, which significantly hampers opportunities for its graduate and post-graduate students. As a result, these young individuals encounter various obstacles in their pursuit of better career prospects.

Meanwhile, the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan is significantly affecting the aspirations of the youth, particularly in Karachi. Many young people in the city have voiced their disappointment regarding the unfulfilled promises made by political parties following the recent elections.

In an interview," graduate Khateeb Ahmed expressed disappointment in the Sindh government's performance in youth development. He said that the "People's Party is struggling to deliver on its promises to boost employment for Karachi's youth, primarily due to its alliance with the PML-N,"

Khateeb urged the Sindh government to take concrete plans and measures to improve the education infrastructure in all districts of Karachi so that students can benefit and build their learning capacity. Khateeb stated that "recent education initiatives of the Sindh government, especially online courses, do not have the full potential to raise students' abilities."

Appreciating the Sindh government's efforts to increase the number of public buses in Karachi, Khateeb said, "The citizens are benefiting from the new initiative to improve transport, but many major roads are still under construction, causing inconvenience to the common people."

Khateeb stated that a special budget should be allocated for the improvement of Karachi city, as promised by People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto during the election campaign.

Musadiq Rehman, 23, has expressed concern over the limited opportunities in the government sector for Karachi's youth. "Current opportunities in government institutions are very limited due to poor infrastructure and lack of resources," Musadiq said. He asserted that the government appears to be failing to fulfill its election promises regarding increasing information and technology jobs in Karachi.

Musadiq highlighted that the Sindh government's promises to improve health systems have largely gone unfulfilled. He said that the "many government hospitals in Karachi still lack basic health facilities due to inadequate resources that were raising concerns about the effectiveness of our current healthcare system,"

Hira Saeed, 25, currently affiliated with local NGOs, expressed her disappointment, stating that the failure of governmental systems has resulted in no noticeable changes. She said that numerous graduates in Karachi are still unemployed and struggling to find better job opportunities, while the government has not implemented a viable plan to address this issue.

Hira emphasized the need for the Sindh government to expand job opportunities for recent graduates and initiate talent hunt programs. She stated, "During the election, many political parties made promises, but after the election, they are noticeably absent from their constituencies."

Lastly, the government must invest in new industries to provide a broader range of opportunities for the youth. This investment will not only help create jobs but also foster an environment where young people can thrive in various fields. By taking these steps, Pakistan can better equip its youth for the challenges of the modern workforce, ultimately contributing to the nation's economic growth and development.