Latif Gaad
Young people are the greatest asset of any nation. If one wants to assess the strength and potential of a nation, one should look at the number of young people it has. If their number is high, that nation can be considered fortunate and capable of achieving success. In terms of both mental and physical development, youth is the stage of life when a person is more energetic, active, strong, enthusiastic, and hardworking.
It is indeed one of Pakistan’s greatest blessings in its 79-year history that the country has a very large young population today. Approximately 63 to 65 percent of the country’s total population consists of young people. Looking at these figures, Pakistan should ideally be strong and advanced in science, technology, research, art, medicine, and many other fields. However, if we look at the reality, the situation is quite the opposite. There are many reasons for this, but one of the fundamental and personal problems faced by our young people is the lack of proper career counseling. As a result, they often remain unable to determine their future and choose the right career path.
If we look at other developed countries around the world, the opportunities available to young people there play a significant role in their career counseling and development. They are guided at the right time to determine their future, and both men and women are able to contribute effectively in their chosen fields, thereby playing an exemplary role in the development of their countries.
In my view, one of the greatest reasons for the progress of developed countries is that their people, particularly young people, develop expertise in specific fields. They are provided with proper training from an early age. Another major reason is the value placed on the quality of work. In such societies, no profession is considered inferior or superior; every occupation has its own importance and dignity. Respect is given to a person who is an expert in his or her field, regardless of what that field may be.
In contrast, our social standards are different. Here, greater importance is given to the position or chair or status rather than to the work itself. This is the very mindset that is instilled in the minds of our young people from childhood under the guise of career counseling. From the earliest age, children are raised with certain fixed options placed before them, and they are taught to pursue those options at all costs.
But what can we expect from a child or young person raised in such an environment? Will such a child bring about meaningful change or play a positive role in society? Or will he or she eventually become a social burden, weakening society from within? Unfortunately, this is what has been happening to us for decades, and the situation continues in full force even today.
The purpose of writing these thoughts is to make us realize how we are wasting the most powerful asset of our society—our youth and their abilities. Why is this happening? Why are we moving towards decline instead of progress? Why do we consider the construction of better roads and buildings as the only signs of development instead of focusing on developing better minds?
There are countless issues associated with young people who are becoming victims of misguided choices and circumstances. These issues need to be discussed, understood, reflected upon, explored, addressed and analyzed so that meaningful conclusions can be drawn.
Therefore, I am writing a new series of articles focusing on career counseling for young people. Through this series, I will provide information about various fields, career opportunities, challenges, and their possible solutions from educational, social, and political perspectives.
My effort will be to encourage every individual in this society, particularly young people, to make the fullest use of their abilities and play their role in building a better society.
I do not merely hope that this will happen; I firmly believe that one day it must happen.
