Underestimating Radio Pakistan

Apropos of letters by worthy readers against the recommendation by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Broadcasting and Information to charge two per cent on mobile recharge as radio levy and a one-time Rs4,000 on new vehicles, I find no weight in opposition to this move.

One point that every writer emphasises is that Radio Pakistan has no clients. I would like to draw their attention to a recently conducted survey by Met Department in flood-hit areas which showed that they received information about floods from the radio.

In cities, we forget that radio is the easiest means for people living in urban and remote areas of the country, though the importance of the radio in urban areas can also not be underestimated.

I remember that when electricity supply was suspended after Ojhri camp blasts, I immediately switched on the radio for information, as the twin cities were panic – gripped.

The same happened in areas devastated by the catastrophic 2005 earthquake.

Will someone tell me how many of the 180 million people of Pakistan have access to cable and newspapers? If the radio had outlived its utility, major international organisations like the BBC, VOA, AIR, VOG and others would have been closed long ago.

Most of them are funded by their governments from the tax money.

It is a fact that Radio Pakistan has its network all over the country from Gwadar to Skardu.

It was never established with the objective of earning money but to provide information and entertainment to the people, create awareness among them on important national and international issues, promote local culture, present religious programmes and encourage sport activities, etc.

Radio licence fee was levied in the past to generate some revenue to run the institution but it was waived off by the government in 1999.

I believe that the recommendations approved by elected representatives are productive enabling the largest broadcasting organisation of the country to cater to the needs of the common people and create awareness on vital national interests.

ABDUL RAOOF KHAN

Dawn