Community Programs

Approximately 300 km from Lahore, almost 15 km from the heart of Burewala, resides the shrine of Haji Sher. In the vast land surrounding the shrine, a deeply distressing sight unfolds: while animals roam freely, individuals suffering from mental illness are chained to trees. The small patch of ground around each tree becomes their bedroom, bathroom, and dining space. These vulnerable, sparsely-clothed individuals endure not only the pain and isolation of their illness, but also the extremes of the environment, from scorching summer heat and heavy monsoon rains to the bitter winter cold. Above all, they must also bear the indignity, pity, and disdain of those who pass by.

In 1992, a small clinic was established near the shrine. In its early days, our physician would go from tree to tree, administering medication to patients. Initially, the shrine's custodians perceived this initiative as a threat and displayed resistance. However, with time, they recognised the voluntary and charitable nature of the effort and began encouraging patients and their families to seek treatment. Over time, awareness grew, and patients with severe, chronic mental illnesses showed meaningful improvement with medication.

The number of individuals visiting the clinic steadily increased, easing the burden on their families and transforming lives within the community.

A major milestone in this journey was reached in June 2012 with the inauguration of a dedicated outpatient psychiatric clinic at the Sheikh Din Welfare Trust Hospital near the shrine. This facility was only made possible through the vision and support of Mr Akram Sheikh, a valued member of our Board of Governors, and his family.

Nearly 110km from central Lahore lies the city of Hafizabad; here, the practice of bloodletting has been carried out by several generations of so-called healers for a variety of mental illnesses. In this primitive procedure, an incision is made on the scalp of an individual suffering from a psychiatric illness, and almost a litre of blood is extracted. The removal of this "contaminated" blood is said to cure the patient and alleviate their illness. If a patient happens to resist, they are inhumanely restrained by several people and forcibly subjected to the procedure.

MIND Organization established a free psychiatric clinic at DHQ Hafizabad in 1997, with the support of Bunyad, an active local NGO led by Ms Shaheen Atique-ur-Rehman, a respected member of our Board of Governors. From its inception, the clinic has received remarkable trust and participation from the local community and continues to operate from Bunyad's office space.

During my association with the MIND Organization, I had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable impact of their mental health camps and clinics in Burewala and other regions, where dedicated doctors provided holistic care to psychiatric patients. Inspired by their success—and moved by my personal interactions with patients from Pakpattan and nearby areas struggling with treatable conditions—my late father, Mahmud Ahmad Khan, and I discussed with Dr. Saad B. Malik, President of MIND Organization, the idea of extending similar services to Pakpattan.

The goal was simple yet profound: to provide free, professional psychological support and counselling services, raise mental health awareness, and promote early intervention.

Kallar Kahar, despite being a popular tourist destination, has long lacked accessible mental health resources. Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad recognized the significant stigma and financial barriers that prevent low-income individuals from accessing psychiatric care in Pakistan. Understanding the critical need for mental health services in this region, Mr. Ahmad approached MIND Organization with a vision to bring professional mental health care to the community.

This collaboration led to the establishment of fortnightly mental health camps at the Raja Fateh Muhammad Wonhar Welfare Hospital, beginning in October 2020. These camps provide free psychiatric consultations and medication to those in need, ensuring that quality mental health care is accessible to all, regardless of their financial circumstances.

First free Psychiatric Camp was held by MIND Organization at Taunsa Sharif on February 25, 2023. It was another effort to reach remote rural areas to provide free psychiatric consultations and medicines to silently struggling patients and their families.