Radio Pakistan has entered into a digital era: DG PBC

Director-General Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Murtaza Solangi has said that Radio Pakistan has entered into digital era and now its programmes are available for people through different platforms.

He was participating in Kay-2 television's live programme "K-2 Lounge"‚ which was devoted to revival of Radio Pakistan in modern era". Prominent broadcaster Kanwal Naseer and President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist Parvez Shaukat also participated in the programme.

The Director-General said apart from radio receivers‚ our broadcast can also be listened or watched through mobile phone sets and live streaming through internet enabled smart phones. He said Radio Pakistan is the only Government organization that has a bilingual website and its programmes and news can be accessed in text‚ audio or video format.

When his attention was drawn towards golden age of radio drama and music‚ Mr. Murtaza Solangi said things have changed in this era of commercialization when both people and artists have different options. He said Radio Pakistan's financial constraints are major hurdle in attracting the right kind of talent and artists.

To a question he said Radio Pakistan's annual budget is not enough even to pay salaries and pensions worth 3.8 billion rupees. He said nowhere in the world a public broadcasting institution like that of Radio Pakistan functions without Government support.

The Director-General Radio Pakistan said unfortunately in 1989 the license fee of the organization was ended through Finance Bill by the then Government.

Responding to question by a listener‚ he strongly dispelled the impression that medium wave transmitters were being closed and said there are parts of the country especially Balochistan where even thousands of FM transmitters would not do the job that a few medium-wave can do. He‚ however‚ pointed out that for establishment of medium-wave transmitters; Radio Pakistan needs funds which are not forthcoming. He said despite resource constraints‚ Radio Pakistan is installing a 400 KW transmitter in Peshawar and 100 in Dera Ismail Khan through US-AID funding.

Parvez Shaukat and Kanwal Naseer urged the Government to provide necessary resources to Radio Pakistan as it still has wider reach than all other media organizations. They supported proposals for self-financing of Radio Pakistan.

(Source : Radio Pakistan)