A senior observer from Hyderabad has raised a pressing alarm about the direction of Pakistan's younger generation. Manoj Kumar Kesrani expresses deep concern, noting that the immense potential of today's youth is being squandered on digital distractions rather than channeled into productive and intellectual pursuits.
The Digital Quicksand: Scrolling Replaces Learning
The core of the issue lies in a fundamental shift in how young people spend their time and energy. Countless hours are lost to aimless scrolling on social media platforms, where the pursuit of followers and online validation has become a primary goal. This constant hunt for instant dopamine hits through likes and shares has created a widespread addiction. The intellectual diet of the youth has transformed; books and authentic sources of information are often neglected, making way for misinformation and fake news consumed in comment sections. The patience for long-form educational content, like documentaries, has faded, overtaken by the fleeting reel culture.
The Silent Exodus from Reality and Responsibility
This digital preoccupation has led to a worrying disconnect from real-world challenges. There appears to be a pervasive indifference among the youth towards critical global and national issues. Pressing matters such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and gender-based violence fail to capture their sustained attention, which remains fixed on Instagram trends and celebrity fashion. Many are alarmingly unaware of the current challenges facing Pakistan, not to mention potential solutions.
The problem is deeply rooted in the education system as well. For many, education is seen merely as a ticket to employment, not a journey of intellectual and moral enlightenment. Rote memorization has replaced conceptual understanding, and subjects like philosophy remain absent from their academic horizons. A significant number lack awareness of the pillars of good governance and the basic principles of democracy. The habit of reading quality books, writing reflective thoughts, or engaging with meaningful music and poetry is in decline.
Root Causes and the Path Forward
Several interconnected factors are driving this troubling behaviour. Unemployment, poverty, lack of access to quality education, and poor parenting are identified as primary causes. A specific example highlighted is the issue of outdated textbooks in Balochistan, which symbolizes the broader systemic failure in providing relevant learning materials.
To steer the youth onto a more constructive path, concerted efforts are needed. Governments must prioritize expanding access to quality education, reducing poverty, and creating genuine job opportunities. Equally important is launching awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of excessive social media use. Without such decisive measures, the future of Pakistan's youth—and by extension, the nation—remains at serious risk. The call from Hyderabad is clear: it is time to redirect this generation's energy from virtual validation to real, meaningful progress.
