Striving in uncertainty

Article Type

Article

Description

Pakistan’s youth, though central to election debates, remain sidelined in meaningful national development. Despite multiple government initiatives such as youth loans, scholarships, and skills programmes, productivity has not improved significantly. In contrast, India’s massive investment in higher education and its global presence in technology leadership highlight Pakistan’s missed opportunities. While over 131,000 Indian students went to US universities in 2023, only 3,353 Pakistanis did the same; similarly, far fewer Pakistanis take GRE, GMAT, SAT, or ACT compared to Indians. The weak design of Higher Education Commission programmes and limited institutional support hinder Pakistani students’ ability to access world-class education. The writers argue that Pakistan must urgently invest in high-quality higher education, innovation, and global academic exposure to strengthen its knowledge economy. Volunteer-led efforts like Sarzameen Pakistan offer some support, but a large-scale strategy is needed to ensure the country’s youth can compete globally and prepare Pakistan for future crises.

Publication Source

DAWN

Publication Date

2-29-2024

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