Gen-Z Revolution Ignites: From Nepal to Pakistan, Youth Uprisings Signal Global Reckoning

Youth Uprising in PoK: A Generation Refuses to Stay Silent

The embers of rebellion are glowing once again across South Asia — and at the forefront stands Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where Gen Z has taken to the streets in a defiant show of resistance. Thousands of young protesters flooded Muzaffarabad on Thursday, raising slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government.

What began as a student-led protest at Muzaffarabad University over skyrocketing fees and deteriorating campus conditions has transformed into a full-blown movement. The unrest has tapped into decades of pent-up frustration over unemployment, economic hardship, and political neglect — now being channelled by a fearless, digitally connected generation.

Who Are Gen Z — and Why Are They Different?

Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — represent a new kind of political energy. Unbound by old loyalties or inherited ideologies, they are challenging the very systems their predecessors tried to reform. Armed with smartphones and social media, they are bypassing traditional power structures to voice their discontent directly, turning hashtags into headlines and online outrage into street movements.

For many in Pakistan, these protests are not just about tuition fees — they are about broken promises, rampant corruption, and the lack of jobs and dignity in public life. “We don’t want reform; we want a reset,” read one placard in Muzaffarabad — a sentiment that captures the generational shift underway.

A Regional Ripple Effect: From Nepal to Sri Lanka

The PoK protests are part of a broader regional awakening. In Nepal, Gen Z activists have marched against corruption and political inertia. In Sri Lanka, it was the young who led the Aragalaya protests that toppled a government amid economic collapse. Across Indonesia, youth-led demonstrations have defied internet censorship, while in Myanmar, young people have taken up arms for democracy.

Africa too is seeing this generational energy. In Nigeria and South Africa, young citizens are mobilising against inequality, unemployment, and state excesses — with movements like #EndSARS inspiring solidarity beyond borders.

Global Resonance: Gen Z Is Changing the World

This is not merely a South Asian phenomenon. Across the United States, France, and Iran, Gen Z has rallied for racial justice, women’s rights, and human freedom. Britain’s youth continue to march for climate action and economic equity, while German activists are pushing for a more inclusive social order. Even in so-called stable democracies, young citizens are forcing political leaders to confront uncomfortable truths about corruption, environment, and inequality.

From Turkey to Brazil and Mexico, the undercurrent is the same — Gen Z is redefining dissent, demanding transparency, and refusing to settle for half-measures.

A Global ‘Youthquake’: The Power Shift Begins

This new youth uprising represents a seismic shift in global politics. Gen Z is not waiting for permission to be heard — they are rewriting the rules of engagement. Unlike previous generations that sought gradual reform, they are pushing for systemic overhaul.

Whether through protests, digital campaigns, or grassroots activism, Gen Z is making one message clear: They will not inherit a broken world without a fight.

As the smoke of rebellion rises from PoK to Paris, one question looms large — who will be next?