The Youth Blog

Madonna–whore Complex, but Make it Lahore: the Symbolic Eradication of the “Middle”

The city with a split personality Lahore has been undergoing a serious identity crisis. Not because the city lacks one, but because we refuse to let it have more than two. A city this sprawling and contradictory gets flattened into two exaggerated images at opposite ends of a spectrum, while everything in between fades into…

Degrees Without Dignity: The bitter reality of Pakistan’s University Graduates

Whenever I sit through high school career talks or watch elder cousins celebrate their university graduations, I notice standard excitement mixed with a quiet, underlying anxiety. Thousands of young Pakistanis step off campuses holding shiny degree folders, yet within months, many are stuck sending out hundreds of resumes, taking unpaid internships, or wondering why their…

Who Built a Pakistan Without Ramps?

On paper, Pakistan looks like a country that has taken disability rights seriously. Provincial laws mandated a 2% employment quota for persons with disabilities in public sector jobs. There are accessibility guidelines for public buildings, a national policy framework, and periodic government announcements about inclusion. Step outside the paperwork, though, and the picturechanges fast into…

Beyond a Signature: The Disregarded Four-Page Document in Pakistan

As a girl in Pakistan, when we are encouraged to think about marriage, our minds turn towards bridal lehenga, mehndi designs, soft-glam makeup, and décor straight out of Pinterest-inspired mood boards. Yet nobody sits us down and says, “Beta, before you worry about your wedding look, you must worry about Nikkahnama (marriage contract).” Yet apart…

Pakistan’s Moral Bankruptcy: Where Do We Go From Here?

I was 19 when a number of cases of harassment came to light in my university – harrowing instances of the levels of abuse students faced inside the walls of the campus. I vividly remember writing a long Facebook post to act as a guide for men on actions which are uncomfortable for women. I…

Why Young Americans Are Turning Away from the Ballot Box

Instability defines the experience of young Americans. One study conducted by Harvard indicated that as little as 13% of teens believe the United States is headed in the right direction. More broadly, institutions are failing younger generations. Politics is perceived as a threat, the future of AI is unforeseeable, and social media’s prioritization of sensationalist…

Petrol Bomb For The Masses; Luxurious Subsidies For the Masters

Pakistani government pulled what can either be classified as an ill-planned PR stunt, or the show of absolute cluelessness. On 2nd April, Petroleum Minister, Ali Parvaiz Malik announced an increase of a historic PKR 137 on petrol and PKR 184 on diesel, bringing the prices to an all-time high of PKR 458 and PKR 520…

Beyond Borders: Why Pakistani Youth Seeks Opportunities Abroad

Every year, thousands of bright Pakistani students celebrate their degrees with hopes of asuccessful future. However, not long after their graduation, many of these same individuals findthemselves preparing documents, applying for visas and planning to move abroad. The joy ofachieving a degree gradually turns into a search for a better life elsewhere for a majority…

Pakistan Is Growing – But Not Healthier

The jug cannot be filled beyond its capacity if fill further will lead to spillage, overpopulation does the same. Pakistan is growing – faster than almost any other country in the world – but this growth is far from healthy. As per 2025 survey the population of Pakistan is 247.7 million, and expected to exceed…

Begging: A Hidden Profession?

Whenever I stand at a petrol pump or pass through a crowded area, my car is often surrounded by beggars within seconds. At that moment, a question repeatedly arises in my mind: why do I find beggars at almost every corner of my country? Begging has been spreading rapidly and has escalated in modern societies,…