Pakistan, Oct. 20 -- When the government announces the closure of educational institutions due to protests, security concerns, or climate-related issues, both teaching and learning fall under lockdown. Although such closures are brief, their consequences run deep in a country where higher education is already in the ICU.

We asked our students a simple question: how do you feel when your university or college closes because of political unrest? Their answers opened a window into the emotional, intellectual, and civic toll that recurring political or security turbulence takes on our nation's young minds.

"I usually feel frustrated and disappointed," responded one student. Another confessed, "Honestly, I feel so bad because of these politi...