The youth are the nation’s future, and the bright future of any state depends on its young generation. It is the youth who will take up the reins of the country. A great and ideal state is always concerned about the daily lives of its youth because they are the ones who will reach for the stars.
The youth of Pakistan are also destined to become the lifeblood of this country in the future. Therefore, nurturing their moral, intellectual, religious, and ideological growth is essential. If we fail to protect our young generation from ideological confusion and moral decline, the future of our entire society will darken.
Raising a balanced, religious-minded youth is our moral duty. All schools of thought should discourage the development of extremist and intolerant attitudes among young people. While following their own religious or sectarian beliefs, they should learn to respect the beliefs of others. It is a grave issue in our society that our youth are often trapped in religious and political divisions, ready to go to any extent to promote the ideologies of their respective groups instead of working toward a brighter future. Some even resort to arms and rebellion. This kind of divisive training should not be encouraged. Parents, teachers, scholars, and political leaders should refrain from sowing seeds of division and hatred in the youth and teach them to respect differing viewpoints. Our youth should learn the values of love, peace, and tolerance. Weekly gatherings should be organized at the neighborhood and union council level to foster the moral development of young people.
A major problem is that many of our youth have become addicted to social media to the point of obsession. Excessive use of social media is gradually eroding their intellectual, creative, and constructive capabilities. If those in authority are truly seeking a bright future for the youth and a prosperous era for Pakistan, certain restrictions should be placed on social media usage, allowing only constructive use. Misleading and divisive content on social media should be strictly banned.
The third important point is that educational institutions and madrassas should focus on producing scientists, intellectuals, and leaders among the youth. Lectures and courses based on expert opinions should be arranged to nurture their creative abilities. Pakistan urgently needs self-sufficient young scientists, computer experts, and space scientists. Likewise, there is a need for young experts in economic sciences. Research centers should be opened in collaboration with educational institutions in Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and China, providing the youth with opportunities to create and innovate.
The mosque, madrassa, school, college, sports grounds, and social media should all contribute to raising the visionary youth that Allama Iqbal dreamed of. Pakistan does not need a corrupt or dishonest generation. It needs great Muslim youth. Allama Iqbal’s poetry about youth should be made a mandatory part of the curriculum. The entire nation and all institutions must pledge to nurture the finest young generation, one that is rich in awareness and consciousness and capable of elevating this blessed state to new heights.
