RADIO Pakistan’s responsibility is to protect the ideological and geographical boundaries of our country. The organisation was the first to announce the independent state of Pakistan on Aug 14, 1947 from its Lahore broadcasting station.

It was converted into Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation in 1973 through an act to ensure broadcasting as a function-oriented public service medium.

Radio Pakistan is also proud of the fact that the head of state addressed the nation every month till the 1970s. Prime Minister Imran Khan should resume this practice as Radio Pakistan reaches almost 95 per cent of the people of Pakistan.

The PBC is the only medium in Pakistan that transmits 500 hours of programmes daily in all regional languages of the country through its 32 broadcasting houses all over Pakistan. Moreover, it also broadcasts programmes in foreign languages through its external services and world services.

Almost 90 per cent its expenditure is borne by the federal government through grant-in-aid, while remaining expenditure is met from advertisements. With the abolition of the Broadcast Receivers Licence in the 1980s, the PBC became fully dependent on government grant-in-aid.

It is suggested that the PBC be allowed the funding of public service broadcasting through the levying of Rs 35 on every utility bill similar to television. Similarly, the government may impose a one-rupee per month levy on cell telephones to be collected as broadcasting fees to generate substantial revenue for the PBC.

Ansarul Haque
Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2020