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 to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
