Happily starved

According to the recently released UN World Happiness Report, Pakistan ranks 75th on the list of happiest countries in the world. The most astonishing fact about this report is that Pakistan is the happiest country within the entire South Asian region – surpassing even China, Iran and India, placed at 86th, 106th and 133rd respectively. The report cannot be declared false because it has been compiled by the UN, as authentic a body as one can be.

We are an energy-starved nation, also a nation that suffered the most in terms of people and economic and national stability at the hands of terrorism. We sacrificed about 70,000 precious lives and lost aid worth $120 billion to tackle militancy. Hours-long load-shedding rendered the lives of this country’s people miserable and made it incapable for our industrial sector to function normally – there are still no signs of recovery. Our circular debt ballooned and imports exceeded exports. But the deleterious effects of all these hurdles failed to rob our people of happiness. However, it is hoped that we will ramp up our efforts and bring more smiles to our countrymen.

Muhammad Fayyaz

Mianwali