Radio Pakistan will launch 'radio schools' for children in restive NWFP
Islamabad: Radio Pakistan will launch a special project of 'radio schools' for children with little or no access to schools in restive NWFP.
At a later stage, it plans to establish an Educational Channel to help promote literacy and create greater awareness in society about security, social and economic challenges.
The decision to this effect was taken in a three-day conference of station directors that concluded here on Friday. This was the first interactive moot of its kind in about four and a half years to devise a new vision for Radio Pakistan in the wake of conceptual and technological changes that have become hallmark of local and international media. In a major policy shift, the conference approved the new community broadcasting initiative, requiring the stations to plan new programmes focusing on the needs of local communities. It also decided to increase local language programming to 70 percent with a view to promoting diverse and rich culture of the country.
Pro-active role: Information Minister Sherry Rehman, who was the chief guest at the concluding session, emphasised that Radio Pakistan had to play a pro-active role in information and educating the masses in a proper way that fit well in the prevailing security environment. She pointed out that national security was the most sensitive issue and broadcasters would have to be very careful while directing their message to the people, who were subjected to the worst kind of terrorism. The minister said the government, being representative of the people, firmly believed in dialogue and respect for local customs and traditions. Radio Pakistan had a responsibility to create awareness among people and help win their minds and hearts, she said. Rehman said the government and people would have to tackle the menace of terrorism at every level. She said the government believed in dialogue and use of force was the last option where writ of the state was challenged. Referring to the role of radio in the prevailing situation, she said it had to make itself a competitive organisation and work hard to meet all targets set by the elected government. She acknowledged that Radio Pakistan faced challenges but expressed confidence that given its wide reach it could compete with the private sector.
The minister said the government had allowed media to work in a free environment and radio too had no restrictions. She said Radio Pakistan had to project policies and programmes of the government but it was free to present diverse opinions in line with requirements of the democratic dispensation.
Rehman expressed concern over performance of marketing and sales department of the Radio Pakistan and stressed the need to review its marketing policy to generate new resources. She appreciated the project for launching the educational channel and assured full support of the government in this regard.
She lauded the decision to enhance ratio of programmes in local languages, pressing for standard and quality at all costs.
Secretary Information Ashfaq Gondal said Radio Pakistan was putting up good efforts for socio-economic development of the country and said it could help a lot in motivating people to play their role in national development. PBC Director-General Murtaza Solgani explained the decisions taken in the three-day conference. He said the conference came up with a new programming vision including revision of the language policy, short-term and long-term up-gradation, expansion and consolidation of PBC and a new marketing strategy. Daily Times
