Youth of a country plays a major role in its progress. Pakistan is one of the fortunate countries which has a huge population of youth. Youth within the age group of 15 to 29 years forms nearly thirty percent of the total population, out of which more than fifty percent are females. It is note-worthy that almost sixty-four percent of our population is below the age of 30. That makes Pakistan a young nation, as compared to the aging population of many countries of the world.
The stats of our nation would prove to be a blessing if the potential of our youth is used in a productive way like in education and employment. It can prove to be a curse, if we fail to efficiently utilize their abilities and potential in the right manner.
Present world is growing in to a global village; this has increased the exposure of Pakistani youth to the outside world. The access of Pakistani youth to the global culture has improved tremendously. The ever-increasing virtual access to the western cultural industry through hi-speed internet services has become a norm in every household in our country.
Pakistani youth is vulnerable to a different global culture, which does not always overlap with the norms, values and ideologies of the host culture. Unless the Pakistani culture is comparably vibrant to absorb the creative energies of the youth, they can easily go off the track and fall prey to the seductive appeal of the baser expressions of the western culture, while considering their own culture a hindrance in their personal growth.
It is famous belief that if the mother’s lap is the first seat of learning for a child, then the culture must be the pedestal on which the seat rests. Culture is considered the backbone of any society. Teaching our youth to respect the Pakistani culture, is the only way forward for Pakistani parents and policymakers to keep their children’s patriotism alive. There is a dominant influence on the youth of the country that is exerted through the education and social media blitz. As a result, they are driven to abandon their own cultural and moral values
It is the need of the hour that our youth needs to take pride in the cultural values of Pakistan. They need to promote their own culture in the Western world. Our youth needs to be proud in their own cultural identity of being a Pakistani, while interacting with the people around the world. Needless to say that on the other end of the spectrum, a visible frustration can be seen among the underprivileged youth, mainly caused by a perceived failure to achieve lifestyles of worldly success, shown through cosmetic corporate advertising through art forms that include films, soaps and the world of social media.
To drag the youth out of cultural distancing, we need to promote education of the arts. Cultural learning takes place in the process of interaction and engagements, for which the opportunities are few and far between. The cultural events, such as art exhibitions and culture festivals have been only reduced to a seasonal affair which is very unfortunate for us.
It is the responsibly of our government to increase opportunities for our youth, to express themselves freely, through music, films, dance, poetry, paintings and craftsmanship among other expressions. Being close to their cultural identity the youth of the country will be able to produce unique and creative outcomes which will not only allow them to have an identity in the world, but also will be a source of pride for them.
by: Abeer Arshad
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