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Embracing failure
In Pakistan, societal pressures often dictate that success is the sole measure of worth, leaving little room for failure. This relentless pursuit of perfection can severely impact children’s mental health, leading to anxiety and depression.
While success is important, resilience is equally essential. Expecting children to excel in every endeavor imposes unnecessary mental strain. Recent studies show a concerning rise in anxiety and depression among Pakistani youth, driven by a fear of failure. Children who are encouraged to accept setbacks develop inner strength and acquire virtues like self-awareness, patience, and humility.
Our parenting and teaching methods must encourage this mindset. We should reward effort, tenacity and learning through challenges rather than focusing solely on grades and awards. If we give children time to reflect on what they learn from their mistakes, failure can become an effective teaching tool.
I urge students, policymakers, and parents across Pakistan to adopt this philosophy. Let’s portray failure as a necessary phase in developing strong, competent individuals. We cannot fully empower the next generation until we embrace this approach.
ANEEQ UR REHMAN
Lahore
Breaking chains
Child labour remains a grave issue in Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s first National Child Labour Survey (1996), statistics show that approximately 3.3 million children are trapped in this cycle of exploitation.
These children are forced to work in domestic labour, brick kilns, carpet weaving, agriculture and begging, depriving them of their right to education, health and a safe childhood. This exploitation perpetuates a horrible cycle of poverty and illiteracy, hindering the nation’s socio-economic growth. Many of these children face severe physical and sexual abuse in the workplace, leading to long-term psychological and emotional scars. Physical abuse, such as beating and overworking, takes a toll on their developing bodies, while sexual exploitation leaves them traumatized, often silenced by threats and shame. These experiences significantly affect their mental health, leading to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, robbing them of their basic human dignity. Addressing this crisis requires serious attention from concerned authorities. First, the government must enforce existing child labour laws, ensuring stricter penalties for violations. Public awareness campaigns can highlight the importance of education and the consequences of child labour. NGOs and international organizations should collaborate to provide free education and vocational training to these children, offering them a path out of poverty. Lastly, counselling and rehabilitation programs are crucial to support child labour survivors, helping them reintegrate into society with dignity and confidence.
ZUNAIRA ZAFAR
Bakrala, Sohawa
Directionless youth
The youth in Pakistan face a growing crisis, exacerbated by changing societal norms and the influence of social media. A lack of proper academic planning, driven by societal pressures, leads many students to make uninformed career choices. This is often compounded by a “go with the flow” mindset, where they blindly follow trends instead of pursuing their true interests.
Social media intensifies this confusion, presenting unrealistic portrayals of success that create feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. Many young people suppress their talents in pursuit of fleeting trends, leading to eventual dissatisfaction and, in some cases, depression.
It is crucial for parents, educators and policymakers to address these issues. Career counseling should be incorporated into the educational system and values like self-awareness and critical thinking need to be promoted to counteract the pressures of social media. The directionless journey of the youth is a national concern that requires urgent action.
SAHIBA JALAL
Chitral
