Islamabad, Pakistan — January 2026: The launch of The Eyewitness: Standing in the Shadows of Pakistan’s History, a memoir by former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Muhammad Saeed Mehdi, was held on 24th January in Islamabad, published by Lightstone Publishers. The event brought together more than 500 guests from Pakistan’s political, media, literary, and academic circles for the launch of a firsthand account of defining moments in the country’s history.
The memoir draws on Muhammad Saeed Mehdi’s decades of public service, including his tenure as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his service as Chief Secretary of Sindh. Through his personal experiences and observations, The Eyewitness documents several significant periods and events in Pakistan’s political and administrative history.
The launch featured opening remarks from Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director of Lightstone Publishers, who spoke about the publication and its reception, alongside Omayr Aziz Saiyid, Director of Lightstone Publishers. Senior journalist and political analyst Asma Sherazi also addressed the gathering, discussing the memoir’s perspective on Pakistan’s political timeline and the author’s position as a firsthand witness to several defining moments. The event was attended by notable figures including Syeda Abida Hussain, Fakhar Imam, Raheela Durani, Sikandar Sultan Raja, Ambassador Sarwar Naqvi, Rubab Sikander, Shaheen Masood, Aizaz Syed, and Farhat Ullah Babar, among other prominent political, media, and literary personalities.
The evening also featured a performance by Shama Saiyid, who sang Sohni Dharti, adding a cultural element to the literary gathering.
Optimize Digital served as the PR & Coverage Partner for the launch, handling the event’s digital PR, media coordination, live broadcasting, and event highlights. From coordinating the coverage around the launch to capturing and amplifying key moments from the evening, Optimize Digital ensured the event was documented and presented across digital platforms with a cohesive communications approach.
This engagement reflects Optimize Digital’s capability in managing integrated PR and digital coverage for high-profile literary and cultural events. By bringing together media coordination, live broadcasting, digital PR, and event storytelling, the team delivered end-to-end coverage for the launch of a publication centered on Pakistan’s political and historical narrative.
