Basant celebrated with patients at Karwan-e-Hayat

Karachi
Karwan-e-Hayat, an NGO that has been providing treatment and rehabilitation services for special people in the city since 1983, organised a colourful Basant celebration on Wednesday at their Psychiatric Care and Rehabilitation Centre in Keamari.
The staff of the rehabilitation department decorated the premises with bright and colourful buntings and kites, and the programme opened with a patient narrating Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem, “Bahar Aai”.
The narration was followed by patients sharing anecdotes, funny stories and more poems with the audience; all of which they had prepared specially for the event. Musical performances, including dhols and guitars, followed before the kite flying commenced, which was the activity most enjoyed by patients and guests alike.
The patients’ families expressed their utter delight at seeing their loved ones performing and having a good time. “It gives me strength to see my son singing, dancing and having so much fun here,” said a patient’s mother who had come especially from Korangi to attend the event.
These exercises were meant to give patients a sense of confidence, positivity and hope in life. “Such events are meant to boost their morale and hopes for life,” said Saleem Abbas, head of rehabilitation services at Karwan-e-Hayat.
Karwan-e-Hayat remains one of the longest serving centres in the city and has an estimated annual inflow of 45,000 patients. The organisation has three centres; a 100-bed in-patient hospital at Keamari, an OPD clinic at Punjab Colony and a community outreach centre at Korangi.