RAWALPINDI: Public health experts and intellectuals have pointed out that around 75pc of the people, especially youngsters are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression in Pakistan.

Health Services Academy (HSA) Vice Chancellor Prof Shahzad Ali Khan said majority of the Pakistani population is either depressed, experiencing stress or anxiety and are not very optimistic about the country’s future.

He was addressing the launch of the 24th Thematic Calendar by Jahan-i-Maseeha Adbi Forum (JMAF). The theme of the 2023 calendar is, under these circumstances, Allama Iqbal’s message of ‘Khudi’.

Prof Khan said that hopelessness and despair has spread among the youth and under these circumstances, Iqbal’s message of self-hood can lift the spirits of the Pakistani nation again.

He added that the Pakistani youth now consider everybody as corrupt and incompetent, adding that majority of youngsters are desperate to leave the country although the entire world is facing similar issues and problems like inflation, joblessness and recession.

“Initially, teachers and academia of our society was targeted and they were defamed, later, character assassination of physicians and healthcare professionals was carried out and the same treatment was met out to politicians,” Prof Khan said, adding that things were not as bad as they were being portrayed.

He lauded the philosophy of Iqbal, adding that he was able to turn youngsters from a minority group in the Indian subcontinent into a united force by teaching them lessons of optimism, enthusiasm and encouragement.

The event was organised in collaboration with pharmaceutical firm Pharmevo that has been promoting Iqbal’s philosophy among healthcare professionals throughout the country.

Syed Jamshaid Ahmed of Pharmevo stressed on establishing and creating a healthier society in Pakistan and said that for a healthier society, not just medicines but promotion of literary activities was essential like holding book fairs, mushairas and so on.

Renowned poet Ajmal Siraj said an advisory committee comprising educationists, writers and scholars selected life and literary works of Iqbal as the theme for the next year’s calendar.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2022