ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Chairman Zafar Masud’s book titled “Seat 1C: A Survivor’s Tale of Hope, Resilience, and Renewal” was on Tuesday launched at a well-attended ceremony hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
The event was inaugurated by IPRI President Lt Gen (retd) Majid Ehsan, HI(M). The book, which chronicles Masud’s miraculous survival in a plane crash five years ago, offers a deeply personal reflection on life, trauma, and recovery, says an IPRI press release.
The panel discussion featured Zafar Masud, Editor Amna Hassan, and Dr Khurram Ellahi. The event was moderated by Muhammad Shoaib. Speaking at the event, Zafar said: “I wrote this book primarily for myself, but it contains life lessons that can be beneficial for everyone.” He said the explored not just his experience of survival but also broader themes such as mental health, tradition, courage, arrogance, and survivor’s guilt. As the author and chief guest, Zafar shared his thoughts and experiences centered on the importance of life and what happens before death. The memoir begins with the crucial 30 seconds before the crash a moment the author describes as a time of self-accountability and clarity. “In those 30 seconds, you are accountable to yourself. The way you live your life is the way you will experience those moments,” he said and dismissed the belief that the location of his seat Seat 1C played a significant role in his survival.