Egypt says no 'ministry of happiness' for one of world's saddest populations

An Egyptian official has said there are no plans for the government to set up a "ministry of happiness" in the country which ranks as one the world's most unhappy.

The official made the denial on Friday after the head of the regime's complaints service said the new ministry would be created "very soon" during an interview with a local channel.

"There is no current trend to establish a ministry of happiness in Egypt," the government source said.

"The government is actually working on making citizens happier by improving the economy, increasing growth, decreasing unemployment and inflation."

The Egyptian poor and middle class have been squeezed in recent years by government austerity measures designed to overhaul the ailing economy.

The subsidy cuts have been made to meet the requirements of a large bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

The belt-tightening measures have seen living costs soar since the pound was devalued in November 2016.

Since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took power in 2014 following a military coup, the government has also led a far-reaching crackdown on dissent and free speech.

Thousands of Islamists as well as secularists have been jailed following trials criticised internationally, while Egypt says it is countering terrorism.

Egypt's already low ranking in the World Happiness Index has plummeted since Sisi enforced the strict austerity programme.

The country ranked 137 out of 156 countries in 2019, down from its 104 ranking in the 2017 report.

The economy took a battering in the aftermath of the revolution that ousted long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the subsequent military coup against the country's first freely elected leader in 2013.

In 2016, the United Arab Emirate created ministries of happiness and tolerance.

Abu Dhabi soon came under fire from human rights groups and activists for alleged "doublespeak", when Emiratis and expatriates suffer from gross human rights violations.

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