Public health experts pointed out that around 75% of people, especially youngsters are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression in Pakistan.
Health Services Academy (HSA) Vice Chancellor Prof Shahzad Ali Khan said the majority of the Pakistani population is either depressed, experiencing stress or anxiety, and is not very optimistic about the country’s future.
He was addressing the launch of the 24th Thematic Calendar by the 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 have 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 corrupt and incompetent, adding that the 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 organized in collaboration with pharmaceutical firm Pharmevo which has been promoting Iqbal’s philosophy among healthcare professionals throughout the country.
Syed Jamshaid Ahmed of Pharmevo stressed establishing and creating a healthier society in Pakistan and said that for a healthier society, not just medicines but a 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.
