PESHAWAR, Aug 12: The show arranged by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Peshawar centre to celebrate Independence Day brought much-needed respite to the audience.

Held at the Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Auditorium on Sunday night, the show titled “Diya Jalai Rakhna Hai” was broadcast live from 9:10 to 12 midnight.

Besides, the large audience, who were glued to the radio sets in their homes to listen to the star-studded programme, a large number of enthusiasts, mostly youngsters, had flocked the hall to see and listen to their favourite singers and comedians.

The station director of the PBC, Peshawar Centre, Fazle Maula, while welcoming the guests, dwelt at length regarding the importance of the radio. He said though information technology had made tremendous progress, the role of radio was still matchless because its transmissions reached to the people in the cities, mountains, deserts, and oceans alike.

Peshawar centre, he said, had the distinction of being the first radio station in the country, the other being Lahore, at the time of Independence. Now there are 22.

The people, he said, listened to the radio to keep themselves abreast with the regional, national and international news, and also enjoy other programmes including songs, dramas, history, business, sports, tourism etc.

The noisy audience remained attentive only during musical items. Both the comperes, Jamshed Ali Khan and Robina Qureshi had no coordination between them which caused inordinate delays between items. The former literally overacted and overdid every bit which made the audience think why has Peshawar not produced a good compere so far.

Thanks to the two comedians, Ismail Shahid and Said Rehman Sheeno, who by virtue of their craft, enthralled the audience. The skit presented by Iftikhar Qaisar, who enacted as a mother, was enjoyed by everyone.

These comedians always come to the rescue of the organizers of such shows by relieving the boredom.

Then, came Anwar Khial, the able son of famous singer Khial Mohammad, who was appreciated very much for his Pashto song. The young and tall Kiran Tanoli sang a beautiful Urdu song which attracted a number of youth on to the stage and danced.

Also, barely 4-year-old girl, Dua, also danced tireless to the appealing rhythm of Kiran’s song.

The local diva, Mashooq Sultan’s folk song also went well because the people here are fond of such stuff. Another local crooner, Jalil Shabnam got standing ovation for his song, urging the people to be friends with each others and rid the country of hatred.