An estimated 30 million young people in Pakistan are silently confronting mental health challenges amidst critical gaps in the nation”s healthcare system, which allocates a mere 0.4% of its health budget to mental wellness and has fewer than 10 child and adolescent psychiatrists for a population where 64% are under the age of 30.
According to a report by Aga Khan University today, in response to this growing concern, Synapse Pakistan Neuroscience Institute has announced the return of Unplugged 2025, the country”s only youth-led concert dedicated to mental health awareness, taking place on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Aga Khan University (AKU).
Hosted by the AKU – Brain and Mind Institute (AKU-BMI), the initiative is a collaborative effort with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS). The event aims to provide a platform for young Pakistanis to break the silence on mental health through creativity, conversation, and connection.
Dr. Ayesha Mian, Founder and CEO of Synapse Pakistan, highlighted the urgency of the issue. ‘Over 60% of our population is under the age of 30 and a quarter of them are suffering from mental health distress,’ she said, declaring that for youth mental health, it is time for ‘Ab Chup Nahin’ (No More Silence). She described Unplugged as a space for young people to take agency and ‘make a call to action for better mental health for all.’
Dr. Zul Merali, Founding Director of AKU-BMI, added that the concert is a ‘creative space to raise awareness, share stories, and spark honest conversations about mental health.’ He confirmed plans to maintain the momentum and transform these dialogues into ‘meaningful action for young people’s wellbeing.’
Now in its third year, Unplugged has evolved from its sold-out 2023 debut into a national movement. The platform, which celebrates music and hope, has already reached an audience of over 100,000 people through its live and digital presence.
The initiative operates against a backdrop of persistent implementation gaps in the National Mental Health Policy and Ordinance passed in 2001. Unplugged serves as a national platform for awareness and action, aiming to expand as a collaborative initiative involving educators, students, and civil society partners to address the limited access to care faced by Pakistan’s youth.