Young people are often accused of being disconnected from the past, as well as their culture and traditions. They are supposedly too busy scrolling, following trends and looking towards what comes next to care about what came before. But spend a little time watching what they actually do, and the picture isn’t quite what we usually assume about them.

For example, a few weeks ago, I saw some youngsters during a photo walk in the old Karachi area. They were really interested in noticing carved wooden balconies, faded doors and old buildings tucked between newer ones. They were surprised to see that the dates engraved on the crowns of those buildings, which they had only read about in textbooks, were actually witnesses to an era gone by. They were asking questions, looking more closely and discovering the city they had been living in since birth.

I was happy to see this new wave of patriotism emerging among young people. Yeah, because loving a country isn’t only about remembering how it was created. It can also mean taking an interest in what it has created, preserving what is disappearing and finding new ways to own it. And in these changing times, patriotism has infiltrated the lives of youngsters through trends such as a flag tucked on a car’s bonnet, a picture of their car painted in green and white, wearing green and white clothes and an image generated through AI. And honestly, it’s very interesting to see these changing times uniquely changing people’s lives.

So, this Independence Day, here’s a close look at how young people are keeping this country’s spirit alive, often without even realising that they’re doing it.

Patriotism is changing and the youth is giving it a fresh look. Here’s how they are reconnecting with Pakistan in their own ways

Recording things before they vanish

A quick look through social media shows that this isn’t a private thing anymore. There are many pages filled with pictures and short videos of an old craftsman who still hand-stitches leather the traditional way, a grandmother’s recipe being recorded before it only exists in memory, or a Mughal-era building or cottage that is slowly crumbling. Every photo, every walk, every click and post gives these places and people another chance to be noticed.

And perhaps that is where we can see a different kind of Pakistani spirit in young people: a curiosity about what belongs to us and a desire to make sure it doesn’t simply disappear.

Vintage souls

There’s also a strange thing happening where teenagers are living in their own decade of baggies, but at the same time, they are finding more interest in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Old film cameras are selling out on resale pages. Cassette tapes are being searched for not for nostalgia points, but because the music actually sounds good — rough and imperfect.

Famous Pakistani songs are remixed with more beats and tunes, while Ahmed Rushdi’s catchy, energetic songs and Madam Noor Jehan’s timeless melodies are finding new listeners among teenagers. Film posters from the Lollywood golden years are turning up in a fusion of colours and stickers as room décor. It’s more like they are realising the country had a whole golden era worth being proud of.

The local glow-up

During the COVID years, a lot of people started small businesses from home. Some were selling traditional embroidery and clothes, others were making food, and there were many more such ideas taking shape. A few of those small ideas have now grown into the cafés, home-based food setups, clothing pages and little businesses we see around us.

Young people may not think of these things as patriotism. They are simply making something of their own or supporting someone from their own country. They might start a small business, buy from a local artisan, share a local brand online or tell their friends about it.

In small ways, they are helping local people and ideas get noticed and grow.

Local travel over flights abroad

Gone are the days when someone had to tell young people, “Pakistan is beautiful, you should visit this place or that.” Things are not the same anymore.

Young people are seeing videos and pictures of places like Skardu, Naran, Gilgit and Hawksbay, as well as mountains, valleys and old towns, even before their elders would have told them about these places. They decide where to go and explore.

So, a place that was once known mainly by local people becomes a priority on people’s travel lists. They may not think of it as patriotism, but choosing to discover and share the beauty of their own country is another way of feeling connected to it.

The words we keep

Something interesting is happening with language, too. Teenagers are bringing Urdu and regional words into memes, captions, songs and everyday slang. An old saying becomes a joke, a Punjabi or Sindhi word suddenly becomes popular and poetry finds its way into reels and music.

I have often been surprised to hear regional songs playing from a teenager’s phone. Interestingly, not everyone understands all the words. They simply like the sound, the tune or the vibe. But that is how curiosity can begin. They enjoy the music at first, then they may want to know what the lyrics mean, where the song came from and why people have been singing it for generations.

They may not realise it, but even listening is a small way of keeping these languages and traditions alive.

Discovering local flavours

Food is another place where youngsters are finding their way back to things they might have ignored before. Social media has made it easier to discover the food hiding in our own cities.

A plate that might have been taken for granted at home can suddenly become something youngsters are travelling across the city to find. They visit small family-run places, try regional dishes, make videos about them and tell their friends where to find the good stuff.

It isn’t always about calling something “traditional” or “authentic”. Sometimes it’s simply, “This is really good. Why didn’t I know about it before?” And that curiosity is enough to bring an old favourite back into the conversation.

So, is this patriotism?

If you are a youngster reading this, know that we understand you’ve been called careless, distracted and disconnected from where you come from. But this is also true: somewhere between the old cassette you found and the regional song you started listening to, you were already finding your way back to something that belongs to you, and you belong to.

No wonder patriotism looks different in this age. It isn’t always about wearing green and white or putting a flag on a car. Sometimes, it means taking a photograph of an old building, supporting a local business, sharing the work of an artisan, searching for an old Lollywood song or choosing a road trip through Pakistan. These may seem like small things, but they are also ways to discover and make the country part of our everyday lives.

Let’s celebrate the old, the new and all the ways young people are making Pakistan part of their lives.

Happy Independence Day!

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 15th, 2026