By Sakandar Ali
Every generation is defined by its response to the challenges of its time. Today, the future of our land rests in the potential of those who are yet to build it.
Let us consider the weight of our reality: Pakistan’s youth population, including our own in AJK, is now one of the largest in the world, with 6 in 10 people under the age of 30. However, with youth unemployment in our region of AJK estimated at 12.5%, we face a stark choice to either let this energy stagnate, or to transform it into the engine of our prosperity.
Economic data suggests that for any nation to thrive, its working age population must be its most active. We are currently in a demographic dividend window, a historical moment where our youth outnumber their dependents. This is not a guarantee of wealth; it is an opportunity that requires your skill, your presence, and your civic participation here in our homeland.
Constructive citizenship is more than a duty; it is an investment. Whether through entrepreneurship, education, or community service, your individual growth is the only sustainable path to our collective resilience. Do not wait for the future to be handed to you. Shape it with the tools of education, modern industry and the values of our heritage.
For the prosperity of our Kashmir and the dignity of our people. Let us build together.