This year, some 106 million registered voters are set to exercise their right to vote. A recently published UNDP report notes that 64 per cent of the total population is below the age of 30 while 29pc is between the ages of 15 and 29 years. Five years ago, the youth were billed as a major deciding factor in the elections as around 41.7m of them were registered to vote. The 2013 general elections saw a renewed vigour among the country’s youth which had seemed gung-ho about voting.

Also read: The youth vote

They may seem starry-eyed when they talk about their favourite politicians, impulsively engaging in political debates. But the generation which grew with Facebook is quick — and rightly so — to lay the blame squarely on their elders for the current state of this country. The youth has traditionally stayed away from the ballot — call it disenchantment with traditional parties or lack of political acumen, so there was, and still is, the question of whether they will come out to vote on July 25.

Twenty-two-year-old Ghafoor Khan Yousafzai from Garhi Kapura, Mardan (PK51, NA21) insists that youngsters must vote.

“Our generation is more aware politically. Our elders are stuck in the past and will continue voting for ‘hamare baap dada ki party’ or ‘nazariya’ regardless of what the party’s performance is. I hope to vote for people who will deliver,” he says.

The biggest issues in his constituency are related to energy. “There is no gas and many have to buy fuel. Getting a gas cylinder is expensive, especially in winters,” he explains, but adding: “The promises made to us in 2013 were fulfilled. The Sehat ka Insaf card was provided to deserving families regardless of their political affiliation. In my village, the nearest RHC and BHU were without any medical personnel. Since 2013, things changed. The medicines are there, people get free medicine.”

Similarly, Maaz Afzal from Karachi’s Jauhar area feels it is important to vote this time around as every other party and government has been tried and tested, and they have failed.

“Political leaders shout slogans promising basic facilities such as water, electricity, gas, roti, kapra, makaan, so we only expect them to deliver on these slogans since we can’t do anything ourselves,” he adds.

Many young Pakistanis who will vote for the first time in their lives on July 25 tell Dawn they believe it is time to think beyond biradari, tribe and ethnicity, and elect the best candidate who will help uplift their constituency and contribute to the well-being of the country — strongly believing that their votes can help change this country for good. But unfulfilled promises seem like a deal-breaker.

“When we go abroad we see how developed these countries are in terms of infrastructure. Our education standards and levels are zero, poverty rate is high, and women have no rights, especially in villages. Child abuse is rampant. I want an end to all of this and will vote for someone who I know has the potential to deliver on these factors,” says 21-year-old Hira Sarwar, a Gujranwala-based voter who studies in Lahore.

“We have good roads all over the area but that’s about it. In case of an emergency, the best possible option for most people is a government hospital. Due to lack of good facilities, we end up taking patients to Lahore," says Ammara Younas, 22, from Village Tamboli, Gujranwala. The biggest issues in her constituency, NA83, PP60, according to her are poor health and education facilities.

Despite the election promises of ending load-shedding, Muhammad Fahad Rauf, 22, from Mianwali says load-shedding is one of the biggest issues in his area. “I want to see education facilities develop so that people like me don’t have to travel to other cities to get education.”

For those who have grown up in the shadow of terrorism, the voting process — even if it means standing in a line, hoping they get to vote — is a cathartic process.

S*, a 24-year-old Hazara youngster from Quetta who is currently studying in Karachi, hopes the candidate he will vote for will bring peace to his city.

“My city has seen so much bloodshed and pain. Most of my friends feel it is better to leave this country but I have faith. Maybe the day I go to the polling station my vote has already been cast, but I do want to go and do my bid.”

Similar sentiments are shared by Qasim Abbas Turi from Parachinar (NA46) who strongly feels that poverty and sectarianism are two major issues afflicting his area.

“I want to see my area progress. We have the piri-faqiri system and the voting process is affected by it. People get swayed by food. This Ramazan one of the candidates served Iftar everyday while asking people that they should vote for him,” says the 21-year-old from Kurram Agency, adding that he won’t ever sell his vote for a plate of biryani.

“I have grown up seeing a dirty, bullet-riddled Karachi. Though things have been peaceful, the city has gone bad to worse in terms of civic amenities,” says M*, 22, a medical student, from Karachi’s Tariq Road area. “2013 elections were a watershed moment for my area. Today I can go around chanting slogans for my political party without having to worry that someone will harass my family for it.”

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, there are around 46 million voters aged between 18 and 35 years, of whom 17.44m fall in the 18 to 25 years age bracket. Many are aware that their party of choice may not be able to fulfil all of their expectations, but use the oft-heard line: “best of the lot” in this situation.

Sidra Qamar from Karachi’s North Nazimabad area says she doesn’t want corrupt leaders. She believes the idea of giving a chance to a party that has yet to prove itself fully. “The rest have all been already assessed; and failed.”

Aleeyah Rizvi, 20, from Wah Cantt, says she’ll vote for Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who, she believes, will work to uplift the area she lives in.

Karachiite Muhammad Hasan Khan, 22, says, “I was confused about which party to vote for as I had serious reservations with most of them. But that dilemma was largely addressed when Amir Liaquat Hussain was given the PTI ticket in my constituency. At least now I know who I am not voting for: PTI. I would rather vote for Firaun (pharaoh) than Amir Liaquat,” he says, mincing no words.

He adds: “I had a political upbringing during the Musharraf era so elections always held this importance to me. I wanted to get out and properly exercise my democratic right and this is the first time I am eligible for it, so I am not going to miss it for the world.”

As the election nears, so far only the PPP has promised employment opportunities its manifesto for 2018 elections while PTI has also said it will create a ten million jobs under its ‘First 100 Days’ plan.

The laptop scheme in Punjab and the youth loan scheme were some initiatives that attracted and benefited youngsters. However, so far — based on election manifestos from previous elections — shows no party has any long-term strategy when it comes to harnessing the power of youth for economic activity.

However, one thing is for sure: the youth are much more informed this time, know they have a voice that counts and that they should make good use of it — not just on social media but also off it.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2018