Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday urged the nation to renew the pledge to make the country a respectable state in the world so that its potential could be utilised in a true manner.
He was addressing a ceremony here at Pakistan Television Headquarters to inaugurate Bolan TV in Balochi language. Governor Balochistan Owais Ghani attended the inaugural ceremony at Quetta Studios which was telecast live.
The Prime Minister speaking on the occasion said the inauguration of Bolan TV would bring the people of Balochistan in the mainstream.
He said the new regional language channel of the PTV in Balochi language would be fully utilised in projecting the traditions, culture, potential and achievements of Balochistan, which was the biggest province (land wise) of the country.
The Prime Minister said three more channels of the PTV in three other regional languages would also start working soon to promote and project provincial culture and traditions in a better and proper way.
He said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah led the Muslims of the subcontinent to achieve a separate homeland, for which Muslims had rendered numerous sacrifices, and added a strong and stable Pakistan would ensure a stable nation.
Congratulating the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Pakistan Television for starting Bolan TV, the Prime Minister said it would provide a proper platform to highlight natural resources, culture, potential and progress of Balochistan. Balochistan, which played an important role in Pakistan movement, deserved to project its voice through regional language TV, he added.
Referring to development projects initiated in the last six years under the leadership of President Musharraf, the Prime Minister said those were unprecedented development projects, adding those development projects had changed the fate of Balochis and assured that more projects would be started in future.
The Prime Minister said that with the completion of Gwadar Port, airport and other development projects in the area, it would become commercial business and tourism center of the region. The Federal government would provide full assistance and co-operation to the Provincial government in completion of its development projects, he assured.
The Prime Minister said Coastal Highway from Karachi to Gwadar had been completed and was being termed as "Shahrah-e-Khushhali" as it had ensured prosperity in Balochistan.
He said the government had also decided to install filtration plants at each Tehsil and Union Councils throughout the country including Balochistan to provide clean drinking water to the people.
Shaukat Aziz said by year 2007, the government would ensure availability of clean drinking water, electricity, health and educational facilities in all parts of Balochistan.
Referring to the motto of "unity, faith and discipline" given by Quaid-e-Azam, the Prime Minister said by following it in true spirit, the country could make rapid progress in all fields.
Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani addressing the inaugural ceremony from Quetta Studios said new regional language TV was a gift of the government to the people of Balochistan on the occasion of the Independence Day.
He said Balochistan had great human potential, natural resources, and expressed the hope that Bolan TV would provide a platform to project those in a proper way. Besides projecting its potential, Bolan TV would also be able to highlight the problems of the area, he added.
The Governor said the development in Balochistan was on top priority of the federal and provincial governments, and added the start of Bolan TV would project the development of the area in an effective manner.
He said development of Balochistan was must to give a quantum jump to Pakistan, and added the Bolan TV would also help in promoting the true image of Balochistan, its culture, pace of development in the area and highlight feelings of the people.
Federal Minister for Information and broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed speaking on the occasion said Bolan TV had provided "language" to the people of Balochistan who had played an important role in Pakistan movement.
He said Balochistan, which had very rich culture and heritage like Mehr Goath, would be able to project its traditions and culture through its own language through Bolan TV.
The Minister said projection of regional culture and tradition would also help promote national harmony and brotherhood.
Referring to free media policy of the government, the Information Minister said in this age of competition, the PTV had been successfully competing with other private channels. He said due to liberal policy and opening of private TV channels, now the candidates of local bodies were using that medium for seeking support from the voters.
Sheikh Rashid said 37 TV channels would start working in the private sector soon after approval of the bill from the Senate to give license to private TV channels. Due to strong financial position of the PTV, payments to artists were increased twice in the last one-year, he added.
PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan speaking on the occasion said the PTV had been projecting national culture, tradition and values in a proper and effective manner, adding three more channels in regional languages would also start working soon.
The MD PTV said Bolan TV besides being watched throughout Pakistan could also be watched in 25 other countries through satellite.
A number of TV artists including Tina Sani, Aziz Baluch and Ayub Khoso presented various programmes on this occasion.
PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan presented a pencil sketch to the Prime Minister, which was made by a PTV employee from Lahore Masood Khalid.
Minister of State for information and Broadcasting Anise Zeb Tahirkhaili and Secretary Information Shahid Rafi also attended the ceremony.
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