Pakistan's Missing Future

Pakistan isn't short on potential. It's short on systems that unlock it.

Daniyal Zulfiqar: Youth4Truth's Pakistan Ambassador

Introduction

For many people around the world, Pakistan is defined by its crises.

Economic instability. Political conflict. Poverty. Security concerns.

But for Daniyal Zulfiqar, a 17-year-old student from Punjab, Pakistan is a country caught between two realities:

A country with enormous potential—and a country whose institutions often prevent that potential from becoming reality.

Currently studying international A-levels and hoping to study economics in the future, Daniyal has already developed a strong interest in understanding how societies function.

For him, economics is not just about numbers. It is about people.

“The economy is basically the community working,” he explained.

During our conversation, Daniyal discussed everything from why he became interested in economics, to Pakistan’s education system, inequality, corruption, religion, youth politics, and why he believes education is the key to changing his country.

Discovering Economics Through the Question of Money

Q: What first drew you to economics as a way of understanding society?

Daniyal:

Economics is the basis of society. You are studying the behavior of people: the spending patterns, the household. Basically, you are studying how people use their money.

How much percentage is going toward food? How much is going toward education? Transportation? Healthcare?

The economy is basically the community working.

That is why economics became so interesting to me. It explains why people make decisions and how society functions.

Q: Was there a specific moment that changed how you viewed economics?

Daniyal:

Yeah. When I was a kid, I thought money was backed by gold reserves. I thought every currency in the world had actual gold behind it.

But then when I researched more, I learned about the fiat system. That was shocking for me because I realized the system was much more complicated than I thought.

I started thinking: what is the real value of money? Why does inflation happen? Why does the same amount of money buy less over time?

That was probably one of the first moments where I became interested in economics.

Inequality and Everyday Life in Pakistan

Q: What do you think is Pakistan’s biggest challenge right now?

Daniyal:

I would say economic inequality.

In my country, there is a huge difference between people. There is a minimum wage, but many workers still earn less than that.

For example, the person who works in my home, the driver or the maid, sometimes they earn around 30,000 Pakistani rupees.

The problem is that many people do not know their rights. They do not know about minimum wages. They do not know what benefits they should receive.

In many countries, if someone loses their job, there are unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, many people have nothing.

People are struggling just to survive.

The Education System: Memorization Instead of Thinking

Q: You mentioned education as one of Pakistan’s biggest problems. What do you mean by that?

Daniyal:

The education system is one of the biggest problems.

In our public education system, students have to memorize everything. If you write the exact wording from the textbook, you get marks. But if you explain the concept in your own words, you might not get marks.

There is no focus on whether the student actually understands the idea. Students memorize the answer, go into the exam, write it, and then forget it. That does not create thinkers.

Q: Do you think this affects Pakistan’s ability to develop?

Daniyal:

Of course. A country needs people who can create new ideas.

"If you only teach people to memorize, they are not going to create new businesses or solve new problems. Education is the biggest investment a country can make."

Maybe in the short term you do not see results. But after 10 or 15 years, the people you educated become productive. They create businesses. They create solutions.

That is how economies grow.

Two Different Educational Worlds

Q: You study through an international education system. How different is that from the public education system you described?

Daniyal:

It is completely different.

I am studying through the British education system, which is common in the United Kingdom. But it is very expensive. My one exam fee can equal around two months of salary for some families.

That is the problem.

The people who can afford good education get more opportunities, and the people who cannot afford it are left behind.

When Institutions Fail: A Story From Daniyal’s Family

Q: You mentioned that institutions are one of the biggest issues in Pakistan. Is there a personal experience that shaped how you see that?

Daniyal:

Yeah. I will tell you about my father.

My father is a businessman. He exports rice. In 2021, there were some people demanding money from him. They wanted him to pay them, otherwise they would create problems for our family and business.

One day, when he was traveling to pick me up, they stopped him on the road. They were threatening him and trying to scare him.

My father could have responded differently, but he believed in going through the law. He went to the police. He went to court. But unfortunately, the person involved had powerful connections.

The system was not equal.

My father even hired one of the best lawyers in Pakistan, but

"Power is sometimes stronger than justice."

That experience showed me why institutions matter.

Why Daniyal Wants to Enter Politics

Q: You said you want to become a politician one day. Why politics?

Daniyal:

"Because I cannot see my country’s people living in poverty and not getting proper education. I want to change things."

But I know it will not be easy.

The biggest challenge is that politics in Pakistan is complicated. You need strong institutions. You need people who believe in justice. Otherwise, even if someone wants to change things, they face many barriers.

Religion and Politics in Pakistan

Q: How does religion influence institutions and decision-making in Pakistan today?

Daniyal:

Religion is very important in Pakistan. But sometimes people use religion politically instead of focusing on the real problems.

For example, there are issues like education, unemployment, inflation, and corruption. Those are the things affecting people every day.

Religion matters, but leaders should also focus on improving people’s lives.

The Informal Economy

Q: How important is the informal economy in Pakistan?

Daniyal:

Most workers are part of the informal economy. Many people do not have bank accounts. They are not registered. They are not paying taxes directly.

The government has difficulty collecting taxes because they do not know everything happening in the economy.

But the bigger problem is trust.

People ask: if we pay taxes, where does the money go?

If people see corruption, they do not want to participate in the system.

Young People and Political Change

Q: Where do you see young people having influence in Pakistan today?

Daniyal:

Honestly, I do not think young people have enough influence right now. But there are some examples.

There are people who use media and public platforms to speak against corruption and unfair systems.

One person I admire is Iqrar UI Hassan.He became popular because he stood against injustice and tried to hold people accountable.

What I like about him is that he has courage. He speaks when many people are afraid.

Young people need that courage.They need to understand politics and understand who should represent them.

The Pakistan People Do Not See

Q: If you could tell young people around the world one truth about Pakistan that they would not learn from headlines, what would it be?

Daniyal:

Pakistan is naturally gifted.

In the northern areas, we have mountains as beautiful as Switzerland. We have deserts. We have beaches. We have every season. We have natural resources.

The problem is that we do not use them properly.

If the government invested in tourism and developed our resources, Pakistan could become one of the strongest economies in the region.

Pakistan has potential.

Closing

Throughout the conversation, Daniyal returned to one idea:

Pakistan does not lack people with ability. It lacks systems that allow those people to succeed.

At 16 years old, he already sees economics, politics, and institutions as deeply connected. For him, changing Pakistan will not come from one policy or one leader.

It will come from education.

From stronger institutions.

And from a generation of young people willing to question the systems around them.

As Daniyal said:

“Education is the main key for any economy to become successful.”