A Deprived Youth Bulge becomes a Liability

A deprived youth bulge becomes a liability. A ‘youth bulge’ refers to a situation when the majority of a population is young. Pakistan is among the countries where approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 30. Depriving such a huge segment of the population of necessary opportunities—such as employment, quality education, political participation, and other amenities of life—will be harmful to society. Deprivation will lead to social chaos, unrest, political polarization, and economic instability. When the youth are not meaningfully engaged in creative activities and participatory decision-making, it breeds resentment and undermines harmony and social cohesion. In addition, they may fall prey to extremist and radical ideologies, as they can be manipulated and exploited by anti-state factors. Terrorists often employ strategies to recruit youth, and when terrorism spreads, it does not only bring with it the loss of life but also damages the national economy and leads to international disrepute.Moreover, it is noteworthy that we live in a digital world; digitalization brings numerous benefits. The youth know how to utilize modern gadgets; therefore, they should be properly educated and provided with the necessary infrastructure for digital gains. Besides, revolutions are often started by a deprived youth. For instance, it was the youth who rose against Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s rule in Bangladesh due to perceived wrongs and injustices. As a result, the government was toppled, bringing further economic and political instability to the country. Thus, it is apt to say that the youth must be given opportunities and quality education, and they should be allowed to actively participate in politics. Otherwise, a youth bulge will turn into a demographic burden instead of a demographic dividend.