Youth are considered as important assets in the development and progress of a country. In countries like Pakistan, where society faces several economic, social and political issues; they are supposed to get more attention from the government sectors. The country is comprised of about 60 percent of young people; facing serious economic, social and administrative problems. Similarly, in the country, where non-traditional and traditional security threats have significant impact; Youth should be engaged in much positive ways in order to compete non-traditional security issues like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and social disorder.
The contemporary era is highly based on interconnectedness and globalization. Media particularly social media has got tremendous importance, and is easily accessible. In order to get maximum positive advantage of this sector, the previous government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took remarkable step and engaged hundreds of youth in the Governmental apparatus. It recruited social media influencers who were supposed to highlight welfare projects of the province and help in social awareness among the people. These young people were able to earn few moneys for their outstanding services. Their responsibilities were uncovering progress of provincial institutions, exploring welfare initiatives and countering fake news and disinformation. More importantly, they were curbing bridges between government and public, which is one of the important hurdles in the Pakistani system. Additionally, this project was the first but important step to empower youth and make them independent so that, they can play a healthy role in the society. This program was highly professional and technical in nature; having no political agenda or party affiliation.
However, the current in-term government of KPK terminated those young social media influencers and stopped their wages and other finances. Unfortunately, stopping such profitable project seems to be a highly biased move; backed by specific political motives. Regardless of the intensions, one thing is pretty sure that, terminating hundreds of youth from their responsibilities will yield nothing but, unemployment, desperation, and anxiety in the young people of the province. Such initiative will definitely impact the confidence and trust level of youth; the already depressed class of Pakistani society. Due to unemployment, youth are facing frustration. Under such situations, initiating such an unjust move against them, will further their problems. Moreover, it will further increase the trust deficit between youth and government; which is already there in majority of the areas.
Generally, governments spend a lot of money and resources on advertising their projects and initiatives. For one advertisement on TV channels and newspapers, governments issue millions of moneys. In the country like Pakistan, where the economy is drowning day by day, it is complete injustice to spend such a huge amount unnecessarily. On contrary, the previous government of KP was doing this job with highly effective way and much affordable cost. With very little expenses as compared to traditional mechanism, these youth i.e, social media influencers, were doing their duties in highly effective and professional way. However, closing the project will not only bring financial complexes to the economically deficient province; but is highly unconstitutional from the in-term government as well.
Lastly, irony is that a nominated temporary government is reversing decisions and policies of a popularly elected previous government. The only legitimate mandate an in-term government have, is to facilitate free and fair elections for the fresh mandate. Unlikely, in the case of KP, this in-term government is doing all those things which they are not supposed to do constitutionally. This will do nothing but weaken democracy, damage people’s trust and confidence on the democratic process.
By Barkat Ullah.
The writer is an Islamabad based Columnist, having wide experience of writing for various English Newspapers. He tweets on @BarkatViews.
