Source The print
ISLAMABAD — In a surprisingly candid assessment from within the top ranks of the government, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi declared that the country’s 70-year-old governance system has completely “collapsed,” warning that mounting anger among the nation’s youth could trigger a massive political upheaval if left unaddressed.
Speaking at the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad, Naqvi delivered a blunt critique of the political establishment and the country’s economic trajectory, acknowledging that successive administrations have failed to meet the basic aspirations of young Pakistanis.
Warning Over Youth Unrest
Referring to youth-led movements across South Asia—where terms like “cockroaches” have been sarcastically co-opted by Gen-Z protest groups—Naqvi warned against underestimating the political power of a frustrated younger generation.
“We are unable to give our youth what they want,” Naqvi said. “You can call them youth, you can call them cockroaches, or whatever you want. But if these ‘cockroaches’ get united, then they can overturn everything.”
He emphasized that cosmetic welfare schemes and small cash stipends would no longer placate a generation demanding fundamental fairness.
“We cannot make the youth happy with a 10,000 [rupee] salary or tablets now,” Naqvi remarked, adding that young people are demanding transparent governance and merit-based jobs rather than government handouts.
A Call for Decisive Structural Reform
Naqvi’s remarks come amid growing public concern over Pakistan’s spiraling external debt and economic instability. He criticized the federal administration for engaging in short-term crisis management rather than long-term policy solutions.
“Look at the state of Pakistan’s federal budget. We only talk about how much debt we have to take on this year,” Naqvi lamented. “Whether you agree or not, the system we have been living under has collapsed.”
To break the stalemate, the Interior Minister proposed:
Administrative Decentralization: Creating additional administrative units and provinces to decentralize power and foster fresh local political leadership.
Cross-Party Consensus: Urging all major political parties to put aside differences and negotiate a comprehensive structural reform agenda.
Economic Realignment: Shift focus toward enabling high-earning opportunities for youth in emerging sectors such as technology and exports.
Online Movements Gain Traction
Naqvi’s speech coincided with an uptick in social media activity across Pakistan, where digital groups such as “Cockroach Party Pakistan” have been gaining followers by campaigning against corruption, administrative inertia, and youth unemployment.
While analysts debate whether online discontent will translate into widespread street protests, Naqvi’s acknowledgment highlights deep anxieties within Islamabad’s power corridors regarding youth disenfranchisement and the urge for political overhaul.
