QUETTA: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto today [April 26] inaugurated the 150 kilowatt, high-powered medium wave transmitter of Quetta Radio station amidst a strong windstorm, which disturbed the arrangements made for the ceremony in a Shamiana-covered pandal at Yaru, about 23 miles from here. … Attending the function among others were visiting ambassadors and heads of chanceries and their wives from Islamabad.

Mr Bhutto said ... that it was a great honour for him … to perform the opening ceremony of “this important broadcasting station in Baluchistan”. He told his audience that he would make up for the Information Minister by not taking any of their time at all. Then in an off-the-cuff remark the Prime Minister said: “I had promised our foreign guests that we will take them to Baluchistan and will show them the storm that is brewing, and now you have seen the storm for yourself.”

This witty sally brought laughter and cheers for Mr Bhutto. … [Agencies add] the inauguration ceremony of the 150 kw Soviet-supplied transmitter began with a recitation from the Holy Quran. [It] is the first of a series of Russian ... transmitters now being installed.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2024