TARIQ AZIZ’S death has deprived us of one more of the pioneers who were part of the original team when Pakistan’s first television station was launched in Lahore in November 1964. His passing away brought back vivid memories of those historical days and caused me to remember all those who are no longer with us.

A small shack in the grounds of Radio Pakistan served as the first office until a rudimentary studio could be built. Among the early ones who came looking to find work in this hitherto unknown means of communication was Tariq Aziz. He came from a radio background, was well versed in Urdu literature and had a pleasing voice and manner of talking.

He was hired immediately by Aslam Azhar as a newsreader and announcer. Kanwal Naseer, then Kanwal Hameed and the daughter of the “golden-voiced” Mohni Hameed of radio fame, became the second announcer. She was only 16 years old at the time.

In fact, the whole programme team was very young. Aslam at 32 was the programme manager and was perhaps among the oldest members of the team.

Only after the pilot station had won the approval of the government and the public was it decided to incorporate it in the formal government structure. It was placed under the wing of the ministry of information, and Agha Bashir was appointed director, but Aslam was left alone to manage the station as before — which meant that the channel was left in the hands of media professionals, as a government channel should be, and there was little interference from bureaucrats and market forces.

Government-owned TV and radio channels are meant to operate as public service channels and be funded by public funds, and not be controlled by the market. Unfortunately, we are living in an age when even basics, such as health and education have been thrown at the mercy of the private sector, ensuring that inequality continues to be perpetrated.

Since programs were done live for which different sets were required, a twenty-minute episode of an English language film was shown in between – while everyone rushed around feverishly to set the studio for the next programme. Late at night Aslam and I previewed the films on offer.

I particularly remember the science fiction serial called A for Andromeda. Programmes were telecast for only three hours every evening, except on Monday, which was maintenance day. And after the transmission, the team would often get together at our house to relax, dissect the evening’s fare, and share ideas. It is a human tendency to look upon bygone days with nostalgia - but of one thing we can be sure – the aesthetics and quality of the programs were decidedly better than what they are today.

Nasreen Azhar

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2020