Pakistan, Jan. 20 -- Pakistan's youth are speaking in a tone that is often dismissed as frustration or defiance. But this is not mere noise; it is the natural response of a generation confronting the widening gap between state policies and everyday reality. Young Pakistanis want to engage with the world, compete, and build their futures at home. Yet too often, they find themselves facing a system where doors of participation remain closed or open only for the privileged few.

For decades, the state has tried to cultivate patriotism, treating it almost like an injection to be administered. But young people understand now that patriotism cannot be imposed. It emerges from justice, dignity, and meaningful inclusion, not from rhetoric. When y...