The United Nations issued a World Happiness Report 2016 recently, ranking Pakistan on the 92nd spot
KHAIRPUR: The United Nations issued a World Happiness Report 2016 recently ranking 156 countries on the happiness scale. Denmark took first place as the world’s happiest country, while Pakistan came in at the number 92 position. There are no surprises here. Prices of commodities keep rising and unemployment is also increasing rapidly, to name a couple of reasons for Pakistan’s low ranking in the index. In recent years, many businesses have closed down owing to the power crisis in the country.
We also see increasing inequality in the country. The rich are becoming richer while the poor get poorer. The public has to bear the burden of heavy taxes at the behest of the International Monetary Fund. A significant portion of our population is anxious, confused and depressed over the uncertain circumstances prevailing in the country.
I recently asked a daily wage labourer in my village about his life. He replied: “Brother! We work all day like donkeys at low wages and then when we return home for a restful night’s sleep, huge black mosquitoes anxiously wait for our blood to quench their thirst. There is no electricity and the hot weather adds to our miseries and tragedies so we cannot even sleep at night.” I then murmured to myself, how can people in Pakistan be considered happy if they cannot even get restful sleep at night?
Safdar Ali Shah Lakyari
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2016.
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