In Pakistan, a troubling trend is taking root among the youth: the growing attraction to quick fixes and so-called shortcuts to success, often at the expense of genuine, long-term education. This mindset is heavily promoted by a certain breed of social media influencers who actively discourage the pursuit of higher education.
The Allure of False Shortcuts
Young Pakistanis scrolling through platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram frequently encounter content creators who label university education as a waste of time and money. Their core argument, however, quickly reveals a sales pitch. After dismissing formal education, their immediate next step is to promote expensive, months-long courses or mentorship programs they themselves are selling, positioning these as the real shortcut to wealth and success.
To make their case seem credible, these influencers routinely point to the exceptional stories of three famous billionaires: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, all of whom left college without completing degrees. They present these outliers as the rule, suggesting that skipping university is the primary path to extraordinary achievement.
The Data Tells a Different Story
This argument collapses under the weight of factual evidence. The reality of the corporate world starkly contrasts with the narrative sold online. In 2023, an overwhelming majority of Fortune 500 company CEOs held a college degree, with only a handful of exceptions. This demonstrates that higher education remains the foundational norm for top-tier leadership, not the exception.
The economic argument for education is also strong in the Pakistani context. A study conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) concluded that the economic rate of return on investment in education generally increases with higher levels of education. Simply put, more education typically leads to better financial outcomes over a person's lifetime.
The Unmatched Value of Purposeful Learning
While a degree is not an absolute guarantee of specific outcomes, it systematically opens doors that often remain closed otherwise. The article emphasizes that even a mediocre degree program pursued with clear mission and purpose is superior to forgoing university entirely. The logic is compelling: if an individual with no degree and limited training can accomplish a task, a person with a degree, enhanced training, and broader experience is statistically positioned to perform it better and advance further.
The core message is a call to value sustained struggle over enticing shortcuts. Those who engage seriously with their university education consistently find themselves with better opportunities, a stronger intellectual foundation, and greater long-term resilience in the professional world. The silent crisis, as highlighted by commentator Mudassar Farid Quereshi from Islamabad, is the seduction of an entire generation by a flawed and self-serving narrative that could undermine the country's intellectual and economic future.
