IS privatisation the only solution to the PIA crisis? The government intends to privatise many public-sector units like power distributing companies and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. How do private owners run institutes smoothly and make them profitable?

It is clear that we only need a policy to make them profitable. How is it that PBC is in a financial crisis while private tiny FM radios run on profit? What makes them profitable? If the government wants to make PBC profitable, only the will is needed. Unfortunately, the government looks the other way and does not want to do that.

If the government gives a free hand to the PBC as enjoyed by other private media outlets, the day will come soon when the PBC will earn profits. Radio Pakistan has a huge and competent staff who can make radio broadcasting on a modern pattern to meet the needs of society. Radio should be the people’s mouthpiece but unfortunately it is the mouthpiece of the government and does not propagate the truth as do other media organs.

Radio listenership is decreasing day by day though it is the largest network compared to other media organs. We live in the computer age where the media is free and thus no news can be hidden. If the government wants to save this and other public sectors, it should then show its will and avoid blaming departments which are running in losses.

N. Baloch
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016