The Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has lauded the Radio Pakistan for bringing improvements in presentation of news and programmes over the past couple of years.
Inaugurating a two-day Station Directors Conference here on Monday, Sheikh Rashid said Radio was a very powerful medium reaching to far-flung areas and accessible to the poorer sections of the society.
He stressed the need for opening of new radio stations and establishment transmitters in the far-flung areas and strengthening the signals of the existing transmitters.
Sheikh Rashid praised the setting up of radio stations at Gwadar, Turbat and four agencies of the Fata, and directed that other agencies might also be provided with that facility.
He particularly urged that radio stations should prepare programmes highlighting different problems of the cities and areas of their reach like traffic and other civic issues.
The Minister pointed out that in the changing situation, media was emerging as a major power at the international scene, and Radio Pakistan must prepare itself to meet the challenges ahead.
He said in addition to news and current affairs, it should have more attractive programmes with greater share of entertainment. Radio Pakistan must also concentrate on development and application of modern technology and strengthen its marketing wing, he added.
Sheikh Rashid said the government was ready to provide every possible assistance in the PBC's bid to modernise its operations.
He said that he particularly wanted smaller stations to hold special shows for the people of their areas, adding a greater publicity campaign would be launched for that purpose.
The PBC Chairman Syed Anwar Mahmood, in his address, said the government had given special attention over the last two years to meet development and other needs of Radio Pakistan.
He said that development projects of Radio Pakistan were progressing well and in this connection referred to the establishment of Gwadar and Turbat radio stations and programmes to install FM transmitters.
The PBC chairman said the news and current affairs channel was being strengthening with the installation of new transmitters, which were being inter-linked.
The PBC Director-General Tarique Imam, in his address of welcome, said Radio Pakistan presented special programmes during the observance of Mother-e-Millat year, Saarc summit and the SAF Games and on the occasion of Jashan-e-Azadi and other national events.
He said Sautul Quran Channel was very popular amongst people and its entire operation had been computerised. He said recording of complete recitation of Holy Quran by prominent Qaris had been completed.
The Director-General gave a detailed presentation about installation of news FM, medium and short wave radio stations and transmitters in different parts of the country to improve the signals and reach to the remotest areas of the country.
About future plans of the PBC, he said those include establishment of 28 FM stations.
He said that newsgathering within the country had been strengthened, while the PBC correspondents would be posted in New Delhi, Colombo and Dhaka.
Tarique Imam said efforts were being made to present programmes meeting the requirements of different sections of the society.
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