– Ayma Rizwan
Before any millennial makes claims in our name, let me be clear: no millennial, man or woman, has any right to speak on our behalf. We are not the same, and you do not represent us, so don’t paint us as helpless victims bound to run away — because we won’t. Generation Z is not a monolith; some may agree with this, while others — like yours truly — won’t, which is precisely why I am writing.
A recent article, “It Is Over” by Zorain Nizamani, voices bold accusations against politicians and institutions in Pakistan, which is fine. However, if you are writing for an institution as prestigious as The Express Tribune, at least make sure your argument is factually correct and not sourced from Wikipedia. The article claims that efforts to promote patriotism among Gen Z are failing because young people see through the authorities’ tactics and feel disconnected from those in power. It argues that the older generation is out of touch, the system is broken, censorship no longer works, and as a result, the youth are either tuning out or leaving the country. These claims oversimplify our complex situation and give an ultimatum we have not yet achieved.
I would like to ask a simple question: if your mother couldn’t afford to buy you the most expensive toys, would you love her any less? Of course not, because love isn’t measured in material wealth, and it cannot be bought. According to Gallup Pakistan, 47% of the population can comfortably meet their basic needs. So what necessities are we claiming we don’t have? If we love our country based on what it does for us and not what we can do for it, then we are ungrateful citizens who don’t deserve Pakistan.
We fully understand the situation, and we don’t need to buy anyone’s version of patriotism — perhaps because we are broke, or perhaps because we already love our country. Patriotism has no versions; it is simply the love for one’s country, the only difference being in how it is expressed. And, of course, the internet — a “reliable” source of information, with sites like Wikipedia and Instagram, which are basically owned by algorithms — dictates much of our every move. And when it comes to education, it is bold to criticize our government when the Pakistan Army has established 214 APS schools nationwide, and the government maintains 176,000 public schools. What then have you contributed to this nation that allows you to openly criticize our education system? Why exercise your freedom of speech to make such claims about the very system that allowed you to study in London and the USA? A bit hypocritical, isn’t it?
You claim that Gen Z sees through propaganda, but the truth is, we are just as susceptible to online manipulation and viral misinformation as anyone else. If we were truly enlightened, conspiracy theories wouldn’t go viral on TikTok. You say we are afraid to speak up — we are not. We aren’t afraid to voice our beliefs, unlike some millennials obsessed with political cults. Our love for Pakistan isn’t tied to one person or personality. You claim we don’t care about those in power — we do. We care about those willing to make a difference, and we care about the soldiers who die every day for the sake of this country.
You argue that security for leaders shows unpopularity, but you forget that every popular personality has both supporters and critics, some willing to go to extremes to show their feelings. Moreover, the terrorism threat in this country is so high that security has become a necessity. You declare that the youth will leave Pakistan because they cannot challenge the powerful, but let me ask: if Quaid-e-Azam had left India, would we have Pakistan? It is not okay to leave your country in a state you dislike — stop complaining and start acting.
You say Gen Z will meme its way through wars — considering that you were referring to the Indo-Pak war of 2025 — but everyone knows who started that conflict. The purpose of the memes wasn’t to fight against our army, but to engage with it, to support it.
So, Generation Z does not need anyone to speak for us, and we don’t need to be painted as victims, nor anyone above 40 to be painted as villains. We have eyes; we don’t need you to see for us. We have mouths; we don’t need you to speak for us. Our country and its institutions may not be perfect, but they try, and that is what matters. To reduce decades of service and sacrifice to a narrative of failure is lazy reasoning and deeply disrespectful.
So, before you declare “It is Over,” remember this: You may have given up on your country, but we haven’t.
The writer is currently doing O-levels and can be reached at: aymarizwan2510@gmail.com
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