This document summarizes the findings of a survey of 1,000 youth aged 20-29 in Karachi, Pakistan regarding their attitudes, ambitions, and entrepreneurial potentials. Key findings include: most youth are religious but tolerant of others' beliefs; internet and mobile phone use is widespread; over half of females are unemployed; a majority desire jobs with stable incomes over entrepreneurship; and less than 15% have received entrepreneurship training despite high interest. Overall, youth remain optimistic about Pakistan's future but many would consider emigrating for work.

1. Attitudes, Ambitions and Entrepreneurship
Potentials of Youth in Karachi
Mehtab S. Karim
&
Ammar A. Malik
School of Public Policy,
George Mason University
October 10, 2012

2. Pakistan’s Youth Bulge
• Proportion of Pakistanis in the 15-29 year age bracket: 33
percent overall & 40 percent in cities
• National demographic trends and youth migration to cities
• Over 7 percent annual GDP growth rate needed to absorb
growing labor force

3. The City of Karachi
• A microcosm of Pakistan, representation of all ethnicities
• Home to 7.5 - 10 percent of Pakistan’s entire population,
11th largest city in the world (UN 2012)
• Produces 20% of national GDP, 25% of national
revenues, handles 95% of foreign trade, retains 45% of
employment in large-scale manufacturing (ADB 2005)

4. The Two Faces of Youth in Karachi
Photos Courtesy Express Tribune & Pakistan Today

5. Population Growth in Karachi
Year
Population
(millions)
Average Annual
Growth Rate (%)
1941
0.387
3.1
1951
1.070
9.4
1961
1.917
6.0
1972
3.500
5.7
1981
5.210
4.5
1998
9.200 (11.200*)
3.5
2012
18.0 (estimated)
Youth 7.2 million
3.5
*The 1998 Census counted an estimated 2 million additional people, however since
they were born in Bangladesh and Afghanistan , they were considered aliens, therefore,
were not included in the official figures

6. Population Growth Comparison between
Developing Country Megacities
18
16
14
12
Cairo
Beijing
Jakarta
Delhi
Karachi
10
8
6
4
2
0
1970
Source: United Nations
1980
1990
2000
2010

7. Survey of Youth in Karachi

8. The Objectives
• Gathering first-hand information from young adults
covering the following key themes:
o Present economic conditions and challenges
o Religious practices and degrees of tolerance
o Perceptions on current conditions and future prospects,
both for themselves and for the country
o Opinions on key players in the country
o Preferences for employment versus entrepreneurship (and
its potentials)

9. Sampling Methodology
• Cross section representative survey of randomly selected
young people living in Karachi, aged between 20 and 29
• Federal Bureau of Statistics Sampling Frame utilized
• 90 clusters from a total of 4000 were randomly selected,
thus equal chance of selection
• 12 young adults (both males and females) selected for
interview at home or its vicinity
• 1,000 interviews were conducted in total

10. The Results

11. Religious Practices and Tolerance
77.5
70.9
70.2
61.9
41.6
37
35.4
30.3
30
20.3
33.5
18
Males
Females
10th Grade or below
College or above
Pray 5 times a day.
Would avoid having neighbours of a different religion.
Would avoid having neighbours associated with a religious extremist group.

12. Use of Internet and Mobile Phones
100
95
89
90
80
80
75
73
70
60
55
52
50
40
31
30
20
10
0
Males
Females
Use Internet Frequently (%)
10th Grade or below
College or above
Have Mobile Phone (%)

13. Marital Status and Marriage Decisions
64
62
62
62
60
60
58
59
58
57
57
56
54
54
52
50
Males
Females
Currently Single (%)
10th Grade or below
College or above
Marriage is Parents' Decision (%)

14. Employment Status by Gender
Male
Female
1.3
30.8
16.2
38.6
46.8
26.8
9.7
29.3
0.5
Full Time job or Self-employed
Full Time Student
Unemployed (looking for job)
Unpaid apprentice
Full Time job or Self-employed
Full Time Student
Unemployed (looking for job)
Unpaid apprentice
Housewife/At home

15. Employment Status by Education
10th Grade or below
19.3
College or above
19.6
26
1
32.1
1
16.6
28.7
25
30.7
Full Time job or Self-employed
Full Time Student
Unemployed (looking for job)
Unpaid apprentice
Housewife/At home
Full Time job or Self-employed
Full Time Student
Unemployed (looking for job)
Unpaid apprentice
Housewife/At home

16. Job Preferences by Gender and Education
80
70
68
65
68
65
64
58
60
54
50
47
46
42
40
42
35
29
28
30
23
23
20
10
0
Have Preference for
Government Job
Male
Well Known BrandName Company
Female
Work for NGO
10th Grade or below
Want to Start Own
Business Once
College or above

17. Any Past Entrepreneurship Training?
100
90
93.5
92.2
87.8
85.1
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
14.9
12.1
7.8
10
6.5
0
Male
Female
No
10th Class or below
Yes
College or above

18. Desire for Entrepreneurship Training
90
80
83.8
80.5
77
74
70
60
50
40
30
20
18.6
18.5
13.3
12.7
10
0
Male
Female
Negative
10th Class or below
Positive
College or above

19. Youth’s Concerns by Education
10th Grade or below
College or above
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
60
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
10
0
0
Highly
Somewhat
Not at all
Highly
Somewhat
Not at all

20. Youth’s Concerns by Gender
Male
Female
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
60
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
10
0
0
Highly
Somewhat
Not at all
Highly
Somewhat
Not at all

21. Prospects of Improvement in Pakistan’s Overall Situation
50
43.8
45
40
37.1
35.9 36
35
30.5
30
29.5
28.5
25
22.5 22.4
20.8
18.2
20
15.6
15.4
15
17.8
13
13
10
5
0
Will Improve
Male (%)
Remain the Same
Female (%)
Get Worse
10th Class or below (%)
No Opinion
College or above (%)

22. Desire to Move Abroad
60
49.6
50
46.5
43.4
40.1
40
37.1
34
33.9
30
26.5
20
14.3
10.5
10
14.4
12.8
11.7
9.5
8.9
6.7
0
Male (%)
Will Always Live in Pakistan
Female (%)
10th Class or below (%)
Go Abroad for Work
College or above (%)
Migrate Indefinitely
No Opinion

23. Attitudes, Ambitions and Entrepreneurship
Potentials of Youth in Karachi
Mehtab S. Karim
&
Ammar A. Malik
School of Public Policy,
George Mason University
October 10, 2012