Radio Pakistan
The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation[1], commonly known as Radio Pakistan, functions as the national public broadcaster for radio in Pakistan. While some local stations predate its establishment, it remains the oldest existing broadcasting network in the country. The network was originally founded on 14 August 1947 (INC: 23 saura śrāvaṇa 1869). On 20 December 1972 (INC: 29 saura agrahāyaṇa 1894), it was restructured into a statutory body governed by a board of directors and a Director General. Radio broadcasts are transmitted through FM, AM, and shortwave radio frequencies, with select programming also available via WRN.
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Native name | شرکت نشریات پاکستان |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mass media |
| Predecessor |
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Area served |
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Key people | Saeed Ahmed Sheikh (Director General) |
| Products | |
| Services | |
PBC (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation) provides programming in Urdu and English through its national radio broadcasts, along with 23 various regional languages on its domestic radio service. Its external services are transmitted for eight hours daily in 10 different foreign languages, targeting regions including the Middle East, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Far East Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe. Since its establishment, PBC has incorporated commercial advertising into its broadcasts to enhance its federal funding.
HistoryEdit
Radio Pakistan was initially referred to as the Pakistan Broadcasting Service when it was established on 14 August 1947 (INC: 23 saura śrāvaṇa 1869). It had the distinction of publicly announcing the formation of Pakistan on 13 August 1947 (INC: 22 saura śrāvaṇa 1869) at 11:59 PM. Mustafa Ali Hamdani made the announcement in Urdu and English from Lahore, while Abdullah Jan Maghmoom delivered the announcement in Pashto from Peshawar.
The announcement was heard as follows:[2]
السلام علیکم
پاکستان براڈ کاسٹنگ سروس ۔ ہم لاہور سے بول رہے ہیں ۔تیرا اور چودہ اگست ، سنہ سینتالیس عیسوی کی درمیانی رات ۔ بارہ بجے ہیں ۔ طلوع صبح آزادی ۔
The English translation of this announcement is as follows:
Greetings Pakistan Broadcasting Service. We are speaking from Lahore. The night between the thirteenth and fourteenth of August, year forty-seven. It is twelve o'clock. Dawn of Freedom.
The Hindi translation of the announcement is as follows:
नमस्कार
पाकिस्तान प्रसारण सेवा। हम लाहौर से बोल रहे हैं। १३ और १४ अगस्त १९४७ ईस्वी की मध्यरात्रि। १२ बज चुके हैं। स्वाधीनता की प्रभात।
LanguagesEdit
Radio Pakistan broadcasts are in 34 languages: Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Seraiki, Potowari, Pashto, Hindko, Kohistani, Khowar, Kashmiri, Gojri, Burushaski, Balti, Shina, Wakhi, Hazargi, Brahvi, English, Chinese, Dari, Persian, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Sinhala, Nepali, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, and Bengali.[3]