This is in apropos to an article by Hajrah Mumtaz (Sept 27). I join hands with the writer in a “Requiem for a falling giant”.

Surprisingly, the decline of Radio Pakistan commenced in the mid-60s when television took off in the country. No doubt TV was a stronger medium as compared to the radio, nevertheless in a country like ours, radio had an edge over TV.

Radio is independent of electricity usage and only 2 dry battery cells could operate the radio set even in those 40 per cent of our villages where there was no power supply.

Also, radio used to speak the languages of the diverse listeners whereas in the beginning TV used to telecast its programmes in Urdu only with a few English bulletins.

Listening to the radio is easy as compared to TV. One can tune in to the radio during the day while driving, cooking, washing etc., whereas viewing a TV programme is a full time job.

Also, Radio Pakistan had attained access and a comfortable place in our tribal culture whereas TV was regarded as 'cinema'.

Despite all its unique strengths, the radio still failed to compete with TV in Pakistan. The causes of decline of the Radio Pakistan are as follows.

Only 2 to 3 per cent of the entire budget of Radio Pakistan is allocated to programmes and the rest of the money goes to non-programme heads such as salaries and other administrative expenses.

Strict policies of the Government have tied the hands of the programming people with the result that the real talent of the programmers is not realised.

On the other hand, Radio Pakistan is losing its credibility. Today it is being run by unprofessional people.

Sadly, a very important unit of Radio Pakistan, Karachi, was recently being headed by an engineer, a step that offended professional programmers working in the unit at that time.

To cut a long story short, the Radio Pakistan which was regarded as the medium for serious people in the country, that rose the nation to its feet during the 1947 mass migration, the 1965 war and on the occasions of Independence day celebrations, has no voice today and gradually losing its credibility earned during good old days.

Syed Abid Rizvi
A former Radio Pakistan employee
Rawalpindi