I HAVE been accused of being an exuberant optimist. Guilty. As I prepare to leave Pakistan after nearly three unforgettable years, people ask me what I will remember most. They expect me to mention the peaks of the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush, the colours of Sindh, or the beauty of the Margalla Hills.

Those places will stay with me. But what I will remember most are the people.

Pakistan is one of the most misunderstood countries. Too often it is seen through the lens of political crises, insecurity or economic hardship. Those challenges are real, but they are not the full story. The Pakistan that I have come to know is found not only in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, but also in places like Umerkot, Sujawal, Badin, Jhang and Booni. It is in the conversations over tea, the warmth shown to complete strangers, and the quiet confidence of communities that rarely attract attention but embody the country’s character.

I have often said that if GDP were measured in hospitality, Pakistan would be the richest country in the world. Hospitality here is not performance. It is instinct. It reveals itself clearly in moments that never make headlines: neighbours rebuilding homes after floods, volunteers travelling across the........

© Dawn