Behind the Scenes

Covering floods in South Punjab...August 2010. Photo courtesy: Farrukh and Fayyaz

Beri( Boat) in Ali pur. Rations being transported.

On the Beri with Fayyaz , our driver who was great help during the trip

Our arrival at Ali pur . Army helping out there.

Mango

Me, Farrukh and Owais , the generous Multan correspondent

A beautiful field near Rohilaanwali

Audio check, Video Check!

An aerial view as we flew towards Rojhan

Preparing for the shoot at Rohilaanwali as I confirmed our next stop

This was a bad scene. Tonnes of wheat rotting at Kot Addu

Passing through the main bazaar at Kot Addu and taking notes

This water pump did work!

This is Niaz. The child was very curious what we were upto.

Preparing to use army's boat service

There we go! This is all flood water by the way, outside Khangarh

Flood victims build hope for supplies as heli approaches

They have to get out first. getting air dropped aid not easy

If you look hard , you'll spot packages being dropped

Some get it and some donot

Back at the bureau

With the doctor at Kot Sultan relief camp

Farrukh instructing me on my movement around in the kitchen

In go all the rice for Pullao

Farrukh wants me to say it again

Just imagine!

Taking a SOT for the report at Daira Deen Panah

Tired and Sad

Her eyes were melting into tears. Ameer Begum

Shahadat, Multan Sr. Correspondent showing me the city below

At Shah Rukn e Alam, Multan city

Pigeon feed.All for Rs.10

What can you say.......

Pain in Mind

“What truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me to the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. I have made the most important discovery of my career - the most important discovery of my life. It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logic or reason can be found.”

It was Russel Crowe’s convincing delivery of the above lines in 2001’s A beautiful Mind that had made me recommend this movie to so many people at the time I had first watched it.

And today I couldn’t help bringing up John Nash’s character with Dr. Asir Sajjad ,Professor of Psychology as I interviewed him in the 6 pm broadcast as part of Express 24/7s special coverage of World Mental Health Day. And in the 9 pm broadcast , I got a chance to interview renowned color therapist Dr. Alia Aftab.

There was so much we discussed. From why Psychiatric care should be made part of Primary Health Care in Pakistan , to ill treatment of women in society and at the same time trying to figure out if law on mental health should determine the extent of civil and criminal liability for offenders who are not condidered mentally sound in Pakistan.

But something that has me talking about the matter with you is the fact that all of us, who consider ourselves ‘sane’ need to take care of that grey matter because we are all at risk. Mental well being cannot be taken for granted anymore. We take pride in having grown up in a modern society. But this modernity comes at a cost. We spend more time on the internet. Facebook status and tweets are often the reason for a smile. Conversations that we want to avoid are carried out on text messages. Physical activity has become such a huge challenge .

What I am saying is nothing new but what I just want to remind you is that all experts I came across today agreed upon one thing and that is the need to get involved in interacting with human beings – think conversations with friends, family, parents and even love interests. And we can help others out too by listening to them. Become a good listener.Strong support networks are better than anti depressants and pain killers any day.Remember Pain of the mind is worse than the pain of body.

After all talking to one’s own self is not such a good idea. Keep it positive.