ISLAMABAD: A British Council survey report launched on Friday found 68 percent of Pakistan’s young population willing to stay in the country in spite of the current economic and political instability while 73 percent said it was optimistic about its future and expected to live a better life in the coming years.
Pakistan has been grappling with tough economic challenges amid growing political uncertainty after a rapid depletion of foreign currency reserves which has also put its national currency under pressure.
According to a Reuters report published last month, data compiled by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment showed that more than 800,000 Pakistani had left their country in 2022 to take up jobs abroad.
However, the British Council survey, “Pakistan – The Next Generation Report 2023,” showed the country’s youth between the ages of 15 and 34 were optimistic about the future of their country.
“[Sixty-eight percent of the respondents] wish to stay in Pakistan than move abroad, while 69% are optimistic about the future of Pakistan,” the report said.
When asked about their lives and employment opportunities in the country during the upcoming years, 69 percent said they had a positive outlook while 73 percent expressed hope in their future careers.
While the country’s next generation said it was hopeful Pakistan’s betterment, it expressed its dissatisfaction with the country’s political system.
“They are politically very passive and apathetic, with little to no trust in the political system,” the report added.
The survey showed that almost nine in ten young Pakistanis saw the economy as a key voting issue at the national level, while the majority of respondents said they felt their voices were not being heard by the country’s leadership.
Survey shows 68% young Pakistanis want to stay in country despite economic, political instability
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Survey shows 68% young Pakistanis want to stay in country despite economic, political instability
- British Council survey calls young Pakistanis politically passive and apathetic, with little or no trust in the system
- 69 percent young Pakistanis have positive outlook about the country while 73 percent hope for good careers
Pakistan stocks rebound on easing regional tensions, gain over 1,500 points
- The development came after Iran said it was keeping communication channels with Washington open amid cost-of-living protests
- It followed a threat by President Donald Trump last week to intervene militarily if Tehran continued cracking down on protesters
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) edged higher on Tuesday as the benchmark index gained more than 1,500 points, with analysts citing easing regional tensions following signals of potential talks between Iran and the United States (US).
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 1,567.36 points, or 0.86 percent, to close at 183,951.50 points, compared to the previous close of 182,384.14 points when the market had shed more than 2,000 points, according to PSX data.
Iran has been witnessing public unrest over worsening economic conditions. Around 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in violent protests, Reuters reported, citing an Iranian official.
Tehran said on Monday that it was keeping communication channels with Washington open as US President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with the Islamic republic.
“Stocks showed sharp recovery at PSX after Iran and US signal talks over unrest in Iran,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
“Surging global crude oil prices and speculations ahead of corporate results in the earnings season played a catalyst role in bullish close.”
Najeeb Ahmed Khan Warsi, digital and retail business officer at Al-Habib Capital Market, said the index had seen a three-day bearish streak.
“Geopolitics and global volatility driving downturn, profit-taking and economic concerns weigh in,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistani market research firm Topline Securities said the benchmark index ended the session on a “positive note” on Tuesday.
“Trading interest remained subdued, as total market volumes reached 1,033 million shares, while the value of shares traded stood at Rs62.9 billion,” it said in a daily market review on X.
United Bank Limited (UBL), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (MCB), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK) and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) jointly contributed 936 points to the index, according to the research firm.
Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SAZEW) and Haleon Pakistan Limited (HALEON) collectively shaved 158 points off the index.
“Bank of Punjab (BOP) led the volume rankings, emerging as the most actively traded stock with 73 million shares,” Topline Securities added.
