Dr. Naveed Elahi
Zorain’s article is a mundane monotone based on misleading political sloganeering sans reasonable arguments. He pretends to think that Gen Z thinks whatever he thinks. He has adopted a pretentious posture of the sole spokesman of the entire generation to highlight their presumed disillusionment. To add further enormity to his skewed posture, he divides the right and wrong on basis of the older and the younger generations. It requires stupendous stupidity mixed with cockiness to tell the parents that your time is over.
A reader cannot ignore the fact that the entire article, littered with sweeping statements, smacks of typical jaundiced mind set that finds faults in the system to justify the chest beating, which is actually done for other reasons.
He must read Ernest Gellner and Benedict Anderson to know that nation-building, which views nations as “imagined communities” is constructed through shared memories, myths, and collective actions. Patriotism serves as a crucial emotional anchor that translates these narratives into cohesive, enduring national strength. All states of the world employ all tools and tactics for nation building and inculcate patriotism in the younger generations. One can disagree with the approach but cannot dismiss it entirely.
Resting the new generation’s awareness and prowess entirely on internet and social media is a lopsided analysis. Social media and internet access are double-edged swords. While these tools have empowered younger generations, they also expose them to misinformation and echo chambers, which can distort their views.
He says you are trying to keep people uneducated whereas the fact is that Pakistan’s national literacy rate has reached 63 percent, reflecting a modest increase of three percentage points over the past five years, according to the latest Household Economic Survey released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
His absurd claim that younger lot is leaving the country because they cannot challenge the powers, is due to prevailing propaganda without any evidence. According to a recent survey acute majority of Pakistani youth (74%) desires to stay back in Pakistan. However, privileged youth segment (18-24 age, upper SECs and federal capital residents) expresses a greater inclination towards leaving Pakistan. The author falls in this category whereas he blames others for sending their children abroad.
He has unintelligently belittled the sacrifices of young soldiers by saying that Gen Z is making memes while ‘others’ are orchestrating wars. Hundreds of Gen Z and Alpha age soldiers and officers of Pakistan’s security forces have laid down their lives to make Pakistan safe from terrorists and belligerent enemies. And yes, memes are part of hybrid war.
In his one-sided tirade, Zorain has not only given an erroneous image that Boomers and Gen Z are at logger heads but also inadvertently portrayed Gen Z as aliens, totally disillusioned of the existing system. In fact, Gen Z has very positive traits which have been conveniently overlooked. Let me remind all, ‘they are Tech-Savvy, socially conscious, tend to start businesses and side hustles at a young age and are resilient enough to navigate an uncertain world with grit and adaptability’.
Another fact is that boomers’ narrative is in vogue around the world so far. As of 2023–2025 data, over 58% of the world’s heads of state are Boomers (born 1946–1964), elected to power by Boomer’s votes. They dominate state leadership roles globally. It’s not over for them around the world and in Pakistan as well.
And by the way the Gen Z author has conveniently ignored Gen X and Y, who come after the Boomers. Wait for your turn please.
The author is Chief Editor of The Strategic Brief
