Youth is not tomorrow, it is now

Fahad Shahbaz

I was 16 when I first stood behind a microphone, nervous hands clenching a folded piece of paper, trying to voice a concern most of us have grown up with: “We have ideas—but no one listens.” That one line, spoken in a small university hall, became the compass that would guide my journey in the years to come.
Growing up in Pakistan, like millions of others, I often heard the phrase, “Youth is our future.” It sounded promising, but always carried an invisible condition: not yet. Decisions were made for us, not with us. And so, instead of waiting for permission, I chose a different path—I began creating space where none existed.

In my late teens, I founded the Youth General Assembly (YGA)—not as a protest, but as a proposal. I believed young people shouldn’t just raise slogans; they should raise resolutions. YGA became the first youth-led legislative forum of its kind in Pakistan, where our generation could discuss national issues, propose solutions, and forward them to those in power. It wasn’t perfect, and it didn’t change everything overnight—but it showed what was possible when the youth moved from the margins to the centre.

Then, in May 2024, something extraordinary happened. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Mr Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, I was appointed as the focal person for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. I was 25 and entrusted not with ceremonial speeches, but with real responsibility.
I still remember my first day in office. There were no headlines. No fanfare. Just a sense of urgency. I thought of the thousands of students I’d met—those worried about jobs, disillusioned by politics, burdened by silence. I wanted the Programme to be more than announcements. I wanted it to be a response.

In less than a year, with the support of an extraordinary team, we reactivated Youth Development Centres across Punjab, reaching over 80,000 students with scholarships, internships, training, and guidance. We launched the Digital Youth Hub, allowing thousands to access opportunities from the palms of their hands. We travelled to over 60 universities—not as officials, but as listeners. I sat with students in hostels, libraries, and under trees, collecting feedback that would later become the ground for the National Youth Policy, which is currently being worked on.

But policy isn’t just paper. So we got to work on the ground.

We planted over a million trees through the Green Youth Movement and ran awareness drives on climate, recycling, and kitchen gardening. We opened sports initiatives—from chess to e-gaming—because every passion deserves a platform. We supported final-year students with industry linkages and reviewed their projects, not from a pedestal but as fellow learners.

One of the most emotional milestones was the formation of Pakistan’s first National Youth Council. For the first time, youth from every province and background—including women, transgender persons, and minorities—took an oath administered by the Prime Minister. It wasn’t a token gesture. It was the beginning of shared leadership.

Internationally, I carried the stories of Pakistani youth to stages in Malaysia, Samoa, Azerbaijan, and the UK—talking policy, climate, education, but also identity and voice. We established liaison offices in more than 12 international universities. We hosted youth ministers from around the Commonwealth. And most recently, Pakistan became the permanent home of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance Secretariat—a vision I had once scribbled in a notebook.

It would be dishonest to say it was easy. There were days I was told to stay in my “lane”, questioned for being “too young”, or advised to “slow down”. But every moment of doubt was met by a stronger reminder: the energy, clarity, and courage I saw in the eyes of students who just wanted to be heard.

Today, when I speak about Pakistan’s youth, I don’t refer to them as the future. They are our present. They are engineers already building. Writers already shaping narratives. Farmers already innovating. Activists already serving. Entrepreneurs already risking everything on a dream.

My journey—from YGA to national policy to global forums—was never about personal ambition. It has always been about proving that when youth are trusted with responsibility, they don't just rise—they lift others with them.

If there’s one lesson I carry with me, it’s this: meaningful change doesn't begin with giant leaps—it begins the moment someone believes in your voice. I was fortunate that someone did. My hope now is to be that someone for others.

We don't need to wait for tomorrow. Pakistan's youth are ready today. All we need to do is let them lead.

The writer is Lawyer and President of Youth General Assembly. He also serves as the Focal Person Prime Minister Youth Programme. He could be reached at fahadshahbaz.com@gmail.com

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