ISLAMABAD, May 6, 2025: Zafar Masud, Chairman of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), launched his memoir titled “Seat 1C: A Survivor’s Tale of Hope, Resilience, and Renewal” at an event hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Tuesday.
The ceremony was inaugurated by President IPRI, Lieutenant General (Retd) Majid Ehsan, HI(M), and drew a large crowd, including diplomats, academics, policy experts, and journalists.
The book recounts Masud’s miraculous survival in a plane crash five years ago and offers a personal reflection on life, trauma, and recovery.
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A panel discussion followed the launch, featuring the author Zafar Masud, editor Syeda Amna Hassan, and academic Dr. Khurram Ellahi Khan. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Muhammad Shoaib.
Speaking about the book, Masud shared that it was written for his personal healing, but it also provides universal life lessons. He emphasized that Seat 1C explores not only his survival story but also the broader themes of mental health, courage, arrogance, tradition, and survivor’s guilt.
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Masud reflected on the crucial 30 seconds before the crash, a moment he described as one of self-accountability and clarity. He explained, “In those 30 seconds, you are accountable to yourself.
The way you live your life is the way you will experience those moments.” Masud also dismissed the notion that his seat—Seat 1C—played a significant role in his survival.
The launch event saw heartfelt discussions about the memoir’s deeply human themes, with participants describing the book as a thoughtful exploration of crisis, resilience, and the search for meaning in life.
Seat 1C is not only a survival story but also a reflection on how moments of crisis can bring clarity and offer valuable insights into life.
