The police had placed barriers on the road leading from Lohari Gate to the shrine of Hazrat Shah Rukin Alam at Qila Qasim Bagh to restrict entry. An argument ensued between a family and the police near the road barriers. The family insisted on crossing the barriers to visit to the shrine that had been closed since the onset of the pandemic. The frustrated lady introduced herself as Samina Haider. She said she was a teacher and that her husband had died of Covid-19 a couple of days ago. She had come to the shrine to pray for the departed soul and for protection from Covid. “Please allow me to say a prayer for my husband at the shrine,” she begged the police officer, but he refused to let her in. All routes to the shrine had been closed due to the pandemic and threats from terror groups.

The shrines are the proverbial last ray of hope for many people in Multan seeking an escape from their financial, psychological and social problems. Each day, dozens of people bring their worries to the shrines but are unable to perform their rituals due to the Covid restrictions. The pandemic has increased people’s reliance on faith. Some find relief, others find hope in the vows that they make here and many lighten their burden by spending time with other visitors. However, the coronavirus has halted all activity at shrines.

Psychiatrists say that the pandemic has affected people’s lifestyles. Dr Naeemullah Leghari, the head of the Psychiatry Department at the Nishtar Medical University, says, “The pandemic has had a major impact on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful and overwhelming for adults as well as children and cause strong emotions. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of Covid-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and increase the stress and anxiety.” Dr Leghari says that the pandemic has brought about key changes in how we live. This has resulted in mood disorders (such as depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders.

Faizan Ali Sheikh, a faith healer, says that his clientele has grown by 50 percent during the pandemic. He says the problems people discuss with him are related mostly to the way their businesses have been affected by the coronavirus. The people say that they are under immense pressure these days. Sheikh says spiritual healers have the responsibility to guide people in religious practices to relieve stress and be reassured that they are not to blame for their circumstances. He says every century in modern history has witnessed a pandemic.

The shrines are the proverbial last ray of hope for many people in Multan seeking an escape from their financial, psychological and social problems.

Lockdowns across the globe, he says, have contributed to the rise and worsening of mental illnesses amongst the masses. People are experiencing additional stress due to the closure of businesses. The incidence of depression has also increased as has the number of people considering and attempting suicide.

Sheikh says spiritual healing is all about mental satisfaction. Religions, he says, teach people to be content in all situations. Stress, anxiety and depression can be relieved if people follow the religious principles. Strict adherence, he says, can relieve not only psychological disorders but also the coronavirus symptoms.

Zeeshan Ahmed, another faith healer, offers a different treatment for mental illness in the context of the pandemic. He works for a pharmaceutical company and is associated with the Safia order. “Zikr-i-Qalbi is a key to preventing mental illness. Some herbs and honey help, too. God cures the sick through Zikr-i-Qalbi, the herbs strengthen the immune system,” he says. He claims that patients suffering from Covid-19 can be cured by reciting sacred verses and by use of certain herbs such as Sana Makki.

Waheed Ahmed Chishti, yet another faith healer who also runs a travel agency in Multan, says, “The sacred book (Holy Quran) contains a solution to every problem faced by humanity. Some faith healers advise their followers to recite two verses from the Holy Quran as a treatment for Covid,”

Dr Amjad Chandio, the Emergency Department director at Nishtar Hospital, advises meanwhile that patients take a high-protein diet to boost the immune system against a severe case of Covid. He also suggests vitamin and mineral supplements and fruits. He says that only strong immunity can protect one against the disease.

The writer is a journalist based in Multan. He can be reached at trisign69@yahoo.com