Karachi: Pakistani actor and television personality Veena Malik has spoken about parental expectations and the responsibilities placed on children, saying they should not be expected to fulfil ambitions their parents were unable to achieve.
“Children are not their parents' insurance policy,” Malik said during a discussion on family relationships, drawing attention to the distinction between parental responsibility and the expectations imposed on children as they grow older. Her remarks addressed the tendency of some parents to view their children's achievements, careers and future decisions as extensions of their own aspirations.
The actor questioned the expectation that children should carry responsibility for goals their parents could not accomplish, raising wider questions about individual choice and family obligations.
In Pakistan, family relationships often involve expectations of mutual financial and emotional support across generations. Adult children may contribute to household expenses, care for ageing parents and participate in decisions affecting the wider family.
Such arrangements can provide support where formal social protection and elderly care services are limited. However, expectations can become a source of disagreement when children are pressured to pursue particular careers, make personal decisions or meet financial obligations regardless of their circumstances.
The discussion also highlights the distinction between supporting parents and being expected to compensate for their unfulfilled ambitions. From one perspective, parents invest time and resources in raising children and may reasonably hope for care and support later in life. From another, children have their own interests, abilities and circumstances, which may not align with their parents' expectations.
Malik's remarks draw attention to the need to balance these responsibilities without treating parenthood as a financial arrangement or children's achievements as a measure of parental success.
The comments form part of a wider conversation about parenting, personal autonomy and changing expectations within families, particularly as younger generations make decisions about education, employment and independent living.
