Voting for a better economy

The historic voter turnout, street agitation following the polls and politically charged social media presence of Pakistani youngsters online, all highlight that the youth of this nation are growing restless.
And while their political loyalties may be scattered among various political parties; their fundamental needs are consistent and convergent; not just within the country, but also with the youth of the world.
More than 73 million youth are without jobs in the world today, according to the International Labor Organisation (ILO). In Pakistan, the tally of unemployed youth is stunted, due to informal jobs and transitional employment.
The Global Youth Employment Trends for Youth 2013 report asserts that lines for job applicants are getting so long, "that many youth are giving up on the job search".
In Pakistan young voters turned up to vote in the 2013 General Elections like never before in the countrys history. Exit polls highlight that an overwhelming majority of these youngsters voted for the new political party on the ballot.
In days following elections, many of these youth are staking out on the streets, demanding re-polling in some constituencies and recounts in others. Their zeal to see new leadership in government is partly explained by their strong belief that the more established political parties have largely failed the youth.
But it is not too late to woo the young voters; be they urban or rural. Job creation must be a paramount concern among legislators stepping into the assemblies.
Addressing the energy crisis can go a long way in boosting the private sectors appetite for human resource. Further, government must kick start infrastructure development. The PML-N had highlighted in its election manifesto that the party would pursue public-private partnerships in this realm. It is now time to put the money where their mouth is.
Piece-meal arrangements like model schools and free laptops will not cut it either. The new government has to restore economic growth and boost investments. Otherwise, resentment among youth may move beyond looking for alternatives on the ballot paper.