Sir: The dependency ratio is a measure showing the proportion of the population ‘dependent’ on the working age population. The dependency ratio has an inverse relationship with the standard of living (level of material comfort in terms of goods and services available), which means the higher the dependency ratio is the lower the quality of life. The youth dependency ratio of Pakistan is around 53.4 percent, which adds to the total of 60.4 percent. To decrease the dependency ratio, we need to encourage employment and a sense of independence among our youth above the age of 18. In the west, parents tell their children that at 18 years of age they become responsible for their lives and that they have to begin earning an income to pay for their bills or college fee. According to the Pakistani culture, this is regarded as absolutely unkind because here, parents like to keep their children reliant and unemployed, until they have completed their bachelors or in the most extreme cases, master’s. Education is definitely important to progress and to get a job; but being dependent is perilous for the economy and the standard of living. In respect to the rising population of Pakistan, it is imperative for family members to divide the responsibilities of a breadwinner. But, then again, until and unless the state is able to create part-time and flexible job opportunities for students, it is unlikely that the quality of life will improve and as a result the middle and lower classes will continue to suffer. RUMSHA SULTAN KHAN Karachi