It has become common for writers to destroy history by projecting their own views. It is disturbing to read an article or any writing which is based on hearsay and inaccurate information, reflecting the prejudice views of the writer.
One such article carried by the newspaper in its Weekend section's columns says "Pakistan Television was founded in November 26,1964. It was born out of General Ayub Khan's desire to influence the masses. PTV's Karachi station however is not yet fifty years old. Any one with a business sense would how ever launched the television from Karachi. But the General did not like Karachi or Karachi walas."
The readers should note very carefully that initially two television stations were planned - one in Lahore and the other in Dacca (later Dhaka). Lahore being the Capital of West-Pakistan and Dacca being the Capital of East Pakistan. The Lahore station started functioning in November 1964 and Dacca in March 1965.
Originally in 1961, this project was initiated by prominent industrialist Syed Wajjid Ali (owners of the Packages Ltd) who signed a joint venture agreement with Nipon Electric Company (NEC) of Japan. A leading Pakistani engineer Ubaidur Rahman was appointed by Syed Wajjid Ali to head the television project.
In 1962, after a series of pilot transmission tests, the project was handed over to the Government and the Ayub Khan Government officially took over it in 1963. President Ayub Khan re-appointed Ubaidur Rahman in 1963 under the Ministry of Information to continue with the NEC joint venture collaboration to launch Pakistan Television or PTV.
The project began with a tent type, small, temporary studio in the back lawns of Radio Pakistan compound, Empress Road, Lahore, where a transmission tower and a studio were constructed. On November 26, 1964 the first official television station commenced transmissions from Lahore, followed by Dacca in 1965 (the then capital of East Pakistan). A third centre was established in Rawalpindi-Islamabad in 1965, being the capital of the country, and the fourth in Karachi, in 1966. Centers in Peshawar and Quetta were established by 1974. Originally, broadcast was in black and white. PTV started colour transmissions in 1976.
While talking about the revenues, the first year revenue generated was beyond imagination as almost the entire business community from Karachi to Peshawar was eager to advertise on television. One should always keep in mind that insofar revenue generation is concerned, first five years are always very crucial for any new project, but PTV's even first year was profitable and always remained profitable.
Please also note that pilot project of television in India started with the experimental telecast starting in Delhi on 15 September 1959 (official launch date) with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio. The regular daily transmission started in 1965 as a part of All India Radio. The television service was extended to Bombay and Amritsar in 1972, when they shifted Television station from Dacca to Amritsar.
Up until 1975, only seven Indian cities had a television service. Television services were separated from radio in 1976. National telecasts were introduced in 1982. In the same year, colour TV was introduced in the Indian market. Indian small screen programming started off in the early 1980s. At that time there was only one national channel, Doordarshan, which was government owned. The Ramayana and Mahabharata (both Indian spiritual & mythological stories) were the first major television series produced. The government launched another channel, which was essentially based on national and regional programming. This channel was known as DD 2: later DD Metro.
ONLY from this single field one can understand the pace of development in Pakistan. Not only India but all the world, specially South Korea, Malaysia and Turkey, was looking at us to follow our development programme. But, it has become a fashion to criticise Field Marshal Ayub Khan. People have little knowledge and try to become philosophers. Now, its history which clearly shows that who was competent, who was a patriot and who was not. We must give our young generation a proper guide line to save our beloved Country from looters and incapable people. Regime of every ruler is like an open book, but there are many hidden stories; I wish, I am able to write about there.
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