By: Suleman Zia and Ali Hassan
A Demographic Imbalance: Pakistan’s political system faces a widening gap between its demographic reality and the profile of its elected representatives. With nearly 64 percent of the country’s population under the age of 30, Pakistan is one of the youngest nations in the world. Yet the National Assembly and provincial legislatures remain overwhelmingly dominated by older, established figures, many of whom belong to political dynasties. This mismatch raises pressing questions about representation, renewal, and the avenues through which younger Pakistanis can participate in shaping the country’s future.
The Weight of Dynastic Politics: The imbalance becomes evident when examining parliamentary composition. According to data compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the average age of legislators in Pakistan is over 50, while only a small fraction is under 35. The contrast with the broader population is stark. The voices of a youthful citizenry, dealing with issues such as unemployment, climate vulnerability, and education reform, are filtered through leaders who often do not share their lived experiences. In practice, this means that legislation and policy rarely emerge from the priorities of the country’s largest demographic group.
And even when parties allocate seats or give tickets to the youth, most of the time the allocation is done to youth from established political dynasties. A recent study by PILDAT found that nearly two-thirds of sitting legislators in Punjab and Sindh come from families with established political legacies. This reliance on lineage over merit sidelines emerging candidates without similar family backgrounds, regardless of their professional achievements or grassroots engagement. The recycling of names and families sustains continuity but stifles renewal, leaving little space for new policy development framework rhetoric or leadership styles.
Parties Without Pathways: The structure of political parties further reinforces this cycle. Young party workers, despite years of service, rarely ascend beyond supporting roles. For many, politics becomes less about service or vision and more about proximity to influential families. The result is a narrowing of the political sphere at precisely the moment when Pakistan’s youthful population demands broader representation and fresh perspectives.
Equally significant is the absence of a functional ladder for political growth. The decline of empowered local governments has removed a critical training ground where new leaders might have gained practical experience before advancing to provincial or national office. The absence of structured pathways from provincial to national legislatures has further constrained opportunities for younger leaders to enter mainstream politics. Youth parliaments and model governments do exist, but they remain largely symbolic, offering exposure without creating any real connection to party nominations or electoral candidacy. As a result, many young people who display leadership through such platforms find themselves excluded from meaningful political participation, while established networks continue to dominate both provincial and national levels.
The Cost of Exclusion: This exclusion has measurable consequences. Research by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics indicates that youth voter turnout lags behind the national average, particularly in urban constituencies. One explanation is that young citizens see little incentive to vote when candidates do not reflect their priorities or generational concerns. In effect, the absence of youth in parliament contributes to disengagement among youth outside of it. The cycle of underrepresentation thus perpetuates itself, weakening the link between the ballot and the country’s demographic future.
Comparative Lessons There are, however, important lessons to draw from comparative experiences. Countries such as Indonesia and Tunisia, with similarly youthful populations, have introduced candidate quotas or support mechanisms to encourage the election of younger representatives. In the United Kingdom, mentorship schemes link members of youth parliaments to sitting MPs, creating continuity between symbolic and substantive roles. While Pakistan’s political context differs, these models illustrate how intentional institutional design can reduce barriers to youth participation without displacing experienced leadership.
Ultimately, the question is not whether Pakistan’s youth will shape the nation’s trajectory, but how and through which institutions. At present, the path from classroom debates and youth forums to parliamentary seats remains inaccessible. Until that path is opened, the country will continue to be governed by representatives who do not mirror its most vital youth demographic.
Aligning Politics with Demographics: For Pakistan, the challenge is not simply one of inclusion but of aligning governance with demographic realities. The youth bulge represents both an opportunity and a risk. If engaged, it can infuse politics with energy, innovation, and fresh ideas. If neglected, it may fuel frustration, apathy, or discontent with formal political processes.
However, it must be said, the dynast or the person who wields more influence has a better shot at becoming an MPA or an MNA because politics in Pakistan has become less about its core function: legislation and more about municipal functions. In essence, a local leadership candidate from a dynasty has the ability to use existing rapport with regional organizations which can kick start infrastructural development in local constituencies.
The larger problem of youth under-representation cannot be permanently fixed by time-bound measures or artificial fixes like mandating a percentage of seats to youth. The problem can only be fixed once we have a local government system that is truly representative of Pakistan’s demographic buildup. It is obvious that the dynastical cycle of electoral politics cannot be fixed through a vouch-safe measure. But at the very least local democracy can ensure that more people enter politics by making the nomination process more accessible. Bringing in a youth dynamic that does not engage in traditional politics and critically understands pressing issues facing younger demographics such as unemployment and education modernization is vital today. With time, this grass-root level change holds the potential to bring a structural reform in our system.
Ultimately, the question is not whether Pakistan’s youth will shape the nation’s trajectory, but how and through which institutions. At present, the path from classroom debates and youth forums to parliamentary seats remains inaccessible. Until that path is opened, the country will continue to be governed by representatives who do not mirror its most vital youth demographic.
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