It Is Not Over, It Has Just Begun

By: Hafsa Sajjad

I recently read Zorain Nizamani’s column titled “It is over,” a piece that eloquently captures the sheer frustration, anger, and alienation simmering within Pakistan’s youth. The writer paints a vivid picture of the disconnect between the ruling elite (the Boomers) and the younger generation (Gen Z). He argues, quite rightly, that hollow slogans of patriotism can no longer sedate a generation enlightened by the internet. He concludes that if the status quo remains, the youth will simply check out or leave.

While his diagnosis of the pain is accurate, I vehemently disagree with his prognosis. To declare that “it is over” is to concede defeat before the battle has truly been fought. Adopting a narrative of absolute despair is not a solution; it is an escape.

Firstly, we must understand that nihilism is a luxury we cannot afford. History is replete with nations that rose from ashes far darker than ours—Japan after WWII, Rwanda after the genocide, Germany after total destruction. They did not look at the rubble and say, “It is over.” They said, “We will rebuild.” If the internet has made us aware of our deprivation, it has also given us the tools to learn how to fix it. Awareness should lead to action, not paralysis.

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Nizamani suggests that the youth will leave. It is true that brain drain is a bleeding wound for Pakistan. But we must ask ourselves: Is leaving a collective solution? Out of a population of 240 million, a privileged few may find greener pastures abroad, but what becomes of the millions left behind? Do we abandon our parents, our siblings, and the impoverished masses to a system we claim is broken? True leadership is not about finding an exit door; it is about fixing the foundation so the house doesn’t collapse on those who cannot leave.

The writer correctly identifies the massive gap between the “Boomers” and “Gen Z.” The older generation may indeed struggle to understand the dynamics of the digital economy, freelancing, and modern liberties. But if they don’t understand, who will replace them? Us. If we, the most technologically equipped generation in human history, give up on our country, we leave a vacuum that will be filled by further incompetence.

Patriotism, as the writer notes, cannot be force-fed. It is a social contract. However, patriotism is also about ownership. You don’t burn down your own house just because the plumbing is leaking and the landlords are stubborn. You fix it. The youth of Pakistan are resilient; we are carving out paths in the digital world despite internet throttling and regressive policies. This resilience is our weapon, not our weakness.
To my fellow Gen Z: It is easy to say, “It is over.” It requires zero effort to be cynical. But it takes immense courage to say, “It has just begun.” The sun is setting on the old guard, and the future is inevitably ours to shape. We cannot inherit a paradise, but we can inherit the struggle to build one.
This is not the end. It is a test of our resolve. And for the sake of our future, we must not fail.