43% Pakistanis express hope about the new year — Gallup survey

Birds fly during the last sunset of the year in Lahore, Pakistan, on December 31, 2020. (AFP/File)
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Updated 28 December 2021
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43% Pakistanis express hope about the new year — Gallup survey

  • Pakistan’s net hope of 2% is significantly less compared to global net hope of 10%
  • Net optimism about Pakistan’s economic situation in the coming year 2022 is -5%

ISLAMABAD: Around 43% Pakistanis have expressed hope about the new year while 45% believe 2022 will be a year of "economic difficulty," according to Gallup International’s Global Hope, Happiness and Economic Prosperity Index released this week.

The findings have emerged out of an annual, 44 country research conducted by Gallup International. The survey in Pakistan was done by Gallup Pakistan, which has been working in the country since 1979.

“According to a Gallup International Survey at the end of the year 2021, 43% Pakistanis feel optimistic about the coming year 2022, 41% feel pessimistic, and 9% expect the new year 2022 to be the same as 2021,” the survey said. “Pakistan’s net hope of 2% is significantly less compared to global net hope of 10%. Net optimism about Pakistan’s economic situation in the coming year 2022 is -5%.”

A nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the four provinces of Pakistan was asked the following question, “As far as you are concerned, do you think that 2022 will be better, worse or the same as 2021?”

In response to the question, 43% Pakistanis said they are optimistic about 2022, 41% believe 2022 will be worse than 2021, 9% said will be the same and 7% did not know or did not wish to respond.

Globally, 38% said 2022 will be better than 2021, 28% said it will be worse, and 27% think it will be the same as 2021. 7% did not know or did not wish to respond.

Comparing Pakistan’s figure with the global average figure, Pakistan’s net hope of 2% is significantly less compared to global net hope of 10%.

In India, 54% said they are hopeful about 2022, 24% said they are not hopeful about the upcoming year and 19% think that 2022 will be the same as 2021. The study computed net hope for India as 30%.

In Afghanistan, 24% said they are optimistic about 2022, 56% think that it will be worse than 2021, and 4% think that it will be same. The study computed net hope for Afghanistan as -32%.


Pakistan deputy PM speaks with Iranian FM as Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles and drones

Updated 06 March 2026
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Pakistan deputy PM speaks with Iranian FM as Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles and drones

  • Ishaq Dar expresses concern over evolving regional situation as both officials agree to remain in contact
  • Pakistan earlier reminded Tehran of its mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia during diplomatic outreach

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, including recent missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia that were intercepted by the Kingdom’s air defenses.

The call comes as Islamabad remains in contact with both Tehran and Gulf states to prevent the widening Iran conflict from spilling further across the region, particularly after attempted strikes on Saudi territory, a sensitive development for Pakistan, which signed a mutual defense pact with the Kingdom last year.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar raised concerns about the evolving regional situation during the conversation.

“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke this evening with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The DPM/FM expressed concern over the evolving regional situation. The two agreed to remain in touch on the developments,” it added.

The ministry did not share details of the conversation, though it came amid fast-moving developments in the region, with Saudi Arabia saying its air defenses intercepted multiple missiles and drones early on Friday.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan was in contact with Iran to discourage attacks on Gulf countries and prevent misunderstandings.

“Such attacks should not be carried out from Iran’s side,” he told Geo TV.

Prior to that, the deputy prime minister told Pakistan’s Senate that Islamabad had engaged both Iran and Saudi Arabia at the outset of Iran’s retaliation in the region, reminding Tehran of its defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and conveying assurances from Riyadh that Saudi territory would not be used against Iran.

Pakistan says its administration is striving to end the conflict, though the United States-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered the war and led to its spillover, have only intensified.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday some countries had begun mediation efforts but insisted Tehran would defend its sovereignty.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on his Truth Social platform as the confrontation shows little sign of easing.