In today’s fast-paced world, Pakistan’s youth are brimming with untapped potential, ambition, and aspirations for a better future. Whether they reside in big cities or small communities, young people today are more creative, knowledgeable, and connected than ever. Even with all of this promise, a significant issue remains:
Are our institutions doing enough to support them, or is it the rise of freelancers that’s truly shaping their future?
Institutions: Still Holding the Reins?
For many years, Pakistan’s educational institutions have been seen as the secret to success. A degree stood for security, respect, and, ideally, a job. But now things are different. These days, it is often difficult to obtain work with that degree. Why? given that the majority of educational institutions continue to use strict curricula, traditional teaching techniques, and a system that prioritises retention over innovation. Digital readiness, entrepreneurship, and innovation are rarely highlighted. Few students receive job coaching, and many graduates are unaware of the needs of the real world.
Because of their structural and asset-limited limitations, institutions are not only to blame for their obvious lag behind the digital age and the changing global economy.
Freelancers: Leading a Quiet Revolution
A silent revolution is being led by Pakistan’s young entrepreneurs as institutions take their time to catch up. These people don’t wait for opportunities to present themselves. They’re actually implementing them.
Young people may now build global portfolios, acquire highly sought-after skills, and make money in dollars thanks to platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal, PeoplePerHour, and even LinkedIn. Programming, digital marketing, graphic design, content writing, and even voiceovers are just a few of their many talents.
A large number of these independent freelancers have learnt on their own by using free resources, online courses, or experimentation. In a country with a shortage of jobs, freelancing has changed from being a way to get by to a way to progress.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Pakistan is currently one of the most competitive freelancing marketplaces in the world, ranking in the top five globally. That is not just a statistic; it is the tale of thousands of young people who are not giving up on their aspirations.
It’s a story of resilience, self-belief, and adaptability.
Institutions vs. Freelancers: Who’s Really Helping?
In reality, independent contractors are more beneficial to youth than formal institutions. They are creating new economic models, empowering both themselves and others, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a developing country.
That does not, however, diminish the role that institutions play. They are still able to supply the basic information, structure, and discipline. But unless they change their approach, they risk falling behind and failing the very generation they were meant to help.
What Needs to Change?
To build a brighter future for our future generations, we must work together. We can shorten the distance in the following ways:
• Include digital, design, and technology skills in the curriculum.
• Incorporate entrepreneurship and freelance training into school curricula.
• Provide mentorship programs and co-working spaces to students.
• Improve rural communities’ digital infrastructure to ensure equal opportunities.
• Encourage government support for youth-led initiatives, freelance marketplaces, and entrepreneurs.
In Conclusion
The future of Pakistan will be shaped not only by lectures and classrooms but also by ideas, code, design, and inventiveness. It belongs to the young people who, instead of following broken systems, are building something better with their own hands. When organizations close doors, freelancers open portals. And through those doors, Pakistan’s youth are confidently and optimistically looking out at the world.
