The children of Pakistan share their vision for the country and how they feel it should be governed. Here are the lofty aspirations of our readers who are ready to be the leaders of tomorrow and solve all our problems. Read on to find out what they plan to do if they become the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a day!

Schools across Pakistan will have the same and international standard syllabus as well as co-curricular activities. Education up to secondary classes would be free.

Fatima Atif,

15 years, Lahore

I would make my country corruption-free by taking away jobs from corrupt people and giving them life-sentence. They will have to pay back all the money they have looted from the national treasury.

Nazifa Fatima,

17 years, Faisalabad

I would bring justice in the country. Both the rich and the poor will be treated equally. If someone steels Rs5 or Rs50,000, the punishment will be the same, this is how there will be no corruption and people can lead a civilised and secure life.

Fatima Hasnain Kazmi,

12 years, Islamabad

I would end child labour and punish those who force their kids to work. After that, I will provide them jobs so they can have a good life.

Muzamil Hussain,

18 years, Dadu

I would provide our police forces with the best trainings and equipment so that our citizens feel safe, knowing they have intelligent and well-trained officials around them, who they can depend on and trust.

Zakia M. Aslam,

12 years, Turbat

I will bring peace and prosperity within and I end target killing and child marriage.

Dolat Khan,

15 years, Turbat

I would take all the necessary steps to eradicate poverty. I would also implement schemes for health improvement.

Shay Jusaki,

16 years, Multan

I would completely change the education system of the country and make it excellent according to the world standards.

Vikram Menghwar,

17 years, Bhit Bhaiti

First, I would kick out corrupt people from almost all the departments of the government and replace them with honest people.

Tehreem Arshad,

17 years, Karachi

I will fulfil the desires of all the hopeless and helpless people. I will eradicate the cheating culture from the education sector.

Pullan Chakar,

15 years, Turbat

I will payback the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Therefore, I will take away all luxuries from government offices and officers. I will collect Rs10 from every person per month and arrange different activities in order to collect and reduce the loan. This step will reduce the loan of IMF and will ultimately develop the economy of Pakistan.

Hamid Hassan Soomro,

13 years, Karachi

I would improve the sewage system across the country and ban child labour.

Ayesha Aziz,

13 years, Karachi

I would bring changes in the administration of the country. I will support the poor and spread justice.

Fawad Idrees Baloch,

15 years, Hyderabad

I would eradicate poverty by taking the money from the corrupt politicians and support the poor and needy with it. Then I would provide strict security against all sorts of crimes.

Adeena Ahmed,

10 years, Karachi

I would collect Rs1000 from every Pakistani, except the poor, and charge Rs5000 from the rich. From this money, I would pay the loans of Pakistan and make Pakistan a loan-free country. And with the remaining money, I will invest on the prosperity of Pakistan.

Muhammad Rahat Shafi,

14 years, Islamabad

I would end corruption and improve the system of education.

Ayesha Aziz,

13 years, Karachi

I will make Pakistan neat and clean by introducing recycling and strict rules for disposal of garbage.

Shahzil Sibghat,

10 years, Karachi

I would impose heavy taxes on the rich and use the money to help the nation. I aim to do away with the great disparity in income that exists at present between the rich and the poor.

Muhammad Ehtisham,

15 years, Ghotki

I would end illiteracy and poverty and impose heavy taxes on the rich.

Eman Nasir Malik,

10 years, Multan

I would make sure all children get free and quality education. I will order the police to ensure safety and protection and catch the criminals.

Alisha Zubair,

8 years, Karachi

I’ll focus on eradicating poverty and illiteracy in Pakistan by giving people clothes, free meals and jobs. And then I’d set up well-equipped government schools for free.

Maria Imran,

12 years, Karachi

I would establish a system where education would be provided to all and make society free from all types of hypocrisy.

Kainat Bano,

14 years, Daharki

I will increase tourism by improving law and order in the country and making impressive tourist spots.

Muhammad Qasim Shafi,

11 years, Islamabad

I would make Pakistan corruption-free and give severe punishment to anyone involved in corruption.

Muhammad Ibrahim Shafi,

11 years, Islamabad

I would provide free education and medical facilities all over Pakistan and I will hire scientists and engineers from other countries to modernise Pakistan.

Ibtihaj Ali,

13 years, Karachi

My priority would be to eradicate corruption and corrupt people from Pakistan. I would keep an eye on every segment of society so that there would be no issues like corruption, terrorism, drug addiction and violation of human rights.

Aleena Malik,

14 years, Abbottabad

I would establish a department to work for the betterment of the environment. Its duties would include planting trees and flowering plants, taking care of the country’s flora and fauna, including mountains, forests and mangroves.

Marvee Hidayatallah,

10 years, Karachi

I would terminate all the corrupt government employees of Pakistan.

Danish Mahdi,

13 years, Madeji

I would provide education to the poor people of FATA, make peace with them by integrating FATA to KPK, and give them equal rights.

Noor Agha Shirazi,

14 years, Parachinar 

I would facilitate single parents, whether mother or father, and would give them more opportunities than others. I would also punish people who violate women’s rights.

Bisma Raani,

7 years, Karachi

I will work for the generation of more electricity because electricity is the backbone of the economic development of any country.

Isma Noreen,

12 years, Hafizabad

I would provide remote villages and cities with basic facilities.

Hasnain Iqbal Shar,

13 years, Mirpur Mathelo

I would end corruption and would educate everyone.

Saba Sana Pervaiz,

6 years, Kandiaro

I would make sure that everyone gets justice. I would bring peace to the country and show the world that Pakistan is a great place to live and visit.

Mahnoor Saqib,

8 years, Karachi

I would establish a balance between the wealthy and the poor and provide justice to the needy. 

M. Sohaib Ali,

8 years, Gujranwala

I would end load-shedding in Pakistan by passing a law to collect taxes from all the citizens of the country, no matter what position or class they belong to, and the money collected will then be used on building dams. Dams will store extra water during the rainy season, thus preventing floods and generating enough electricity which could be used throughout the year.

Mohammad Hamzah,

10 years, Lahore

Since corruption is the root cause of Pakistan’s problems, I would bring a stop to it by terminating all the fraudulent employees from all the organisations.

Grannaz Abdul Baqi,

13 years, Makran

I would stop child labour. Then I would give jobs to the poor and jobless and also provide the basic facilities to all citizens.

Hozaifa M. Yaqoob,

15 years, Makran

All necessities, like hospitals, education, shelter and other things will be free for the citizens of Pakistan.

Najeeb Noor,

14 years, Turbat

I would implement new policies related to climate change, freedom of speech, corruption, etc.

Zehra Talat,

13 years, Islamabad

I will curb kidnappings and will provide proper training to the police department so that they can prevent crimes.

Eman Ali,

10 years, Karachi

I would work on improving the environment and reducing pollution.

Ahmed Abbas

14 years, Lahore

I would make sure that peace prevails and justice is provided to every citizen of the country.

Areeha Fatima,

12 years, Faisalabad

I would never allow anyone to work for other countries since our own country is not yet developed and needs everyone to work for it.

Waseema Aman, 

11 years, Karachi 

Injustice in society is a threat to peace. Therefore, I would ensure prevalence of justice and strict implementation of merit across the board.

Noor Spogmay,

16 years, Islamabad

I would work for women’s independence, their rights and security.

Fatima Gafhoor,

12 years, Turbat

I would build schools and hospitals across the country.

Qambar Iqbal

16 years, Turbat

I would improve the education system of Pakistan. The government will pay for the education of all children who are needy and will also provide them with books and other necessary stuff. This would stop needy children begging on the roads.

Hazza Barq,

10 years, Lahore

I would maintain cleanliness on the streets and in the parks. I will make sure that roads are paved properly.

Asma Khurram,

10 years, Karachi

I would make the roads smooth and would help poor people by providing them shelter and giving them good quality food and clothes.

Alizeh Rameen,

11 years, Lahore

I would spread equality among all citizens. I would severely punish the culprits of Model Town misery.

S. M. Ali Hassan,

14 years, Lahore

I would eliminate all the shameless corrupt rulers from the government and replace them with honest people.

Tayyab Ali Zaidi,

12 years, Karachi

I would introduce land reforms to ensure that no landlord has more than 500 acres of property and he will not be allowed to transfer the extra land to his extended family. Farmers who do not have enough land will get extra land, and tube wells will be installed for better irrigation.

Amal Fatima,

14 years, Karachi

I would bring changes in the administration of the country. I would support the poor and provide justice to all and will not make my life luxurious.

Fawad Idrees Shar,

15 years, Hyderabad

I would try to provide the poor with the basic necessities of life, like free education, clothing, food and shelter. I would make a team which would ensure that the people are being provided with their basic needs.

Hadia Faisal,

11 years, Lahore

I would make hospitals and schools for the poor and provide them with quality services for free.

Soha Shiraz,

11 years, Hyderabad

I would like to make quality education free for all citizens.

Eisham Shahid,

12 years, Lahore

My first priority would be to unite the nation as one by treating everyone equally and respectfully.

Mustafa Faisal,

13 years, Lahore

I will discontinue old methods of teaching, especially the concept of cramming that destroys the abilities of a student.

Attaullah Channa,

16 years, Larkana

I would tell everyone to save the seeds of each fruit that they eat and then plant them. By planting seeds, trees will grow which will clean the air so people will become healthier and the trees will also produce food for us.

Fatima Hasan,

10 years, Karachi

I will order that every street of all cities of Pakistan should be kept clean.

Hayyan Abbasi,

8 years, Karachi

I will end gender discrimination and spread equality in Pakistan.

Mahgul Habib,

12 years, Kech

I would build more educational institutions, because our country is suffering due to the low literacy rate.

Gulsameen Raheem,

10 years, Turbat

I will eradicate sexual harassment and empower women.

Alia Hayat,

14 years, Kech

I will work for the advancement of country and make strong relationships with other countries.

Tahira Raheem,

13 years, Turbat

I will provide full facilities to all hospitals, so that people do not have to travel to other places for treatment.

Jammal Karim,

11 years, Turbat

I will bring amendments in the educational structure. I will update the syllabus and will reduce the academic burden on students.

Syeda Insia Fatima,

16 years, Faisalabad

I would focus on improving human rights and stop child labour.

Altamash Jawaid,

13 years, Karachi

I would ask the poor people what they want, because poor people also deserve full rights.

Adnan Maqsood,

9 years, Turbat

I would take action against people involve in child abuse and domestic violence.

Syeda Maheen Bukhari,

16 years, Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, Young World August 26th, 2017