Revamping Radio Pakistan

Speaking at a presentation on Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation at National Broadcasting House, in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz rightly stressed the need of making Radio Pakistan more vibrant, and technologically advanced, saying it is a very powerful medium, and a national asset.
However, sounding though satisfied with its performance, he made a pointed reference to the government's urge to enhance the role of radio in the country, by bringing its news and programmes more in tune with the needs of the people. For, as he pointed out, and rightly so, despite mushrooming of private TV channels, radio is still keenly listened to in most parts of the country.
Again, while conceding that there are challenges to radio from state-owned Television and private channels, he did well to ask Radio Pakistan to evolve a new strategy, along with befitting ideas to meet the growing needs.
It will also be noted that dilating upon the vital role of radio, in the national scheme of things, he pointedly referred to its tremendous, but under-utilised potential.
This was the context of his candid observation that Radio reaches out far and wide and is especially listened to in the rural areas, where sixty five percent of the population lives. Needless, to point out, simply because of its too restricted reach at present, a large bulk of population remains deprived even of knowledge of the efforts being made for ameliorating their plight, on the one hand, and of their rights, on the other.
It will, thus, be noted that a time when wide-ranging efforts are being made towards taking the nation out of the clutches of illiteracy, ignorance and grave misconceptions on religious and moral issues, the right message hardly reaches an overwhelming section of the targeted population. As such, the emphasis the Prime Minister laid on Radio Pakistan's future role should appeal to reason. For, as he referred to tremendous changes in dynamics of flow of news and entertainment over the last decade, the need for radio to revamp itself from a whole new thrust can hardly be overemphasised.
The same can be said about the need of Radio Pakistan professionals monitoring the competition from private radio stations, and adjusting their programmes in accordance with the listeners' appeal. As to what needs to be done, in this context, Shaukat Aziz, spoke of the advisability of focusing domestic and regional issues with a sense of realism, keeping in mind that as a very powerful medium it can influence the thinking of vast sections of the people with such a dismally low literacy rate.
Understandable, as such, should also be the need he expressed of Radio Pakistan playing its part in promoting moderation and countering the negative impact, through improving its religious, news and entertainment programmes, besides news, talk shows and entertainment content.
However, being a state-owned entity, all this will call for the government to evolve an imaginative scheme of things, laying due emphasis on matters outlined by the Prime Minister. It has, certainly, done a great deal in that direction by allowing private TV channels and radio stations to operate. Making the best possible use the Information Technology revolution, they have been effectively breaking the barriers to mass information, in their own way, but with a marked focus on financial gains.
This is, of course, not to say that they are not contributing to national efforts, as being pursued by the government. A reference, in this regard, may especially be made to the laudable role FM radio stations played in relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of the devastating October 8 earthquake, as also in the fields of education and social awareness.
Time has, now certainly come for the government to play a pivotal role not only in adding to the appeal of radio from a multi-pronged approach, that is, improvement in programme content, extending the reach of Radio Pakistan to all sections of the people. Perhaps, a beginning in that direction can be made with the President's weekly broadcast to the nation, as in vogue in the United States.