Saturday, March 29, 2025
Is Pakistan’s Shehbaz Government on the Brink? ‘Gen Z’ Leads Nepal-Style Uprising Over Education Reforms
A fresh wave of mass unrest is sweeping across Pakistan, particularly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where young students—popularly referred to as Generation Z (Gen Z)—have taken to the streets. What began as demonstrations against rising tuition fees and controversial education reforms is quickly transforming into a wider political movement aimed directly at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government.
Students are protesting changes in Pakistan’s school examination and fee systems, which they say are deeply unfair and financially burdensome.
E-Marking System:
A new digital marking process introduced at the Matric and Intermediate levels has sparked outrage after results announced on October 30 showed an unexpectedly sharp drop in scores.
In some cases, students were reportedly marked passed in subjects they never even took—fueling allegations of major administrative failure.
Re-Evaluation Fee Burden:
Students are demanding that the government waive re-evaluation fees.
Currently, the cost is PKR 1,500 per subject, meaning a single student could owe PKR 10,500 or more, which is impossible for many low-income families to afford.
Movement Expansion:
The protests have now spread beyond PoK to major urban centers including Lahore.
The agitation is being coordinated by the United Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
This new wave of student-led protests comes only weeks after large-scale civil unrest in PoK:
Earlier Protests:
Residents had taken to the streets demanding reductions in taxes and reinstatement of subsidies on wheat flour and electricity, along with action against corruption.
State Crackdown:
Pakistani security forces opened fire on demonstrators, leading to the death of at least 12 civilians.
Forced Negotiation:
Following public outrage, the Shehbaz government was eventually compelled to hold talks and partially agree to the protesters’ demands.
Observers and analysts are drawing parallels between PoK’s Gen Z protests and the youth-driven mass movement that recently shook Nepal:
Nepal Reference:
In Nepal, youth protests over restrictions on social media escalated into a national anti-corruption revolt that ultimately forced political leadership to change. Government residences were vandalized and set ablaze during the unrest.
Pakistan’s Fear:
A similar spark seems visible in PoK today.
What began as anger over exam markings is now evolving into a wider rejection of government authority—and potentially, the military establishment backing it.
While it is too early to declare the collapse of the Shehbaz government, the situation is highly volatile:
The protests are decentralized, youth-led, and rapidly spreading.
The grievances are emotional and directly linked to students’ futures.
The government risks further escalation if it responds with force—as it did previously in PoK.
If momentum continues to build, Pakistan could see one of the most significant internal challenges to civilian authority in recent years—one rooted not in political parties, but in the frustration of an entire generation.
