KARACHI:
Growing youth unemployment in Pakistan reflects a systemic policy failure rather than an unfortunate
coincidence. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26, youth unemployment stands at approximately 11.6%, with graduate unemployment significantly higher. Each year, over 500,000 graduates enter the labour market that generates fewer than 200,000 formal jobs. Even those who
secure employment often earn between Rs25,000 and Rs35,000 per month, an income insufficient to sustain a basic standard of living. This is not a failure of effort; it is a failure of structure.
The consequences are visible. In 2024 alone, more than 860,000 Pakistanis migrated abroad for work, most of them under 35. This brain drain is stripping the country of skilled professionals it urgently needs. Meanwhile, initiatives such as laptop schemes and short-term digital campaigns fail to address the core issue: the absence of sustainable job creation.
The authorities concerned should prioritise structural reforms, including merit-based recruitment, transparent hiring processes and policies aligned with industry demands. Youth employment must be treated as a national economic priority, not a symbolic gesture.
Hashir Mehtab
Bahawalpur
