Dual challenges

It is now time for us to pay attention to two of the most pressing issues Pakistan has today: brain drain and mental health struggles. Both issues are resulting in the loss of young minds with the ability to reform and improve our society. With each passing day, Pakistan’s most gifted and educated youth make the difficult decision to leave the country. Since 2022, over a million highly skilled professionals have reportedly fled abroad, carrying not only their skills but also the ideas, passion, empathy, and optimism that could have influenced our country’s future. At the same time, mental health concerns remain a silent epidemic, affecting more than 45 million individuals in Pakistan.

Students are among the most affected, as they are under enormous academic, financial, and emotional expectations. As a society, we need to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, encourage candid discussions and emotional assistance and make counselling and mental health resources more accessible. Our young people deserve better, including the emotional support they require to lead satisfying lives in addition to the chance to prosper in their native country.

Moin Ahmed Awan

Kandhkot