Seat 1C – A Survivor’s Tale of Hope, Resilience & Renewal

In Karachi the Southern Regional Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) hosted a compelling session through its book forum, recently, featuring the author of the month, Mr. Zafar Masud, CEO of Bank of Punjab, and his book, Seat 1C – A Survivor’s Tale of Hope, Resilience & Renewal, alongside his father and guest of honour, the legendary film and television actor Mr. Munawar Saeed. This initiative marks a new chapter in promoting reflective learning and storytelling within the CA community.

The session commenced with opening remarks by the Chairperson of SRC Ms. Moneeza Usman Butt, FCA, who underscored the role of literature in fostering empathy and leadership and emphasized on the importance of the reading habits and reigniting its passion through this new initiative, followed by a welcome address from ICAP Vice‑President Mr. Muhammad Samiullah Siddique, FCA.

Moderating the discussion was a senior ICAP member and literature enthusiast, Mr. Rashid Masood Alam, who provided an insightful overview of the book’s themes and introduced the evening’s distinguished guests, Mr. Zafar Masud and Mr. Munawar Saeed. He talked about the gripping story of surviving a near‑fatal aviation disaster. Seat 1C recounts how “a mind‑bending series of fortunate incidents allowed Mr. Zafar Masud to emerge as one of just two survivors” on that fateful day. The discussion proved emotional, thought‑provoking, and deeply inspiring, with attendees praising the book’s blend of candid storytelling and practical life lessons. The forum was graced by several prominent figures from Pakistan’s business and cultural sectors.

In closing, Mr. Masud expressed his hope that the lessons of resilience and renewal he has learned would empower others to confront their own challenges with courage and compassion.