Punjab government launches FM-95
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has launched its FM channel, called Punjab Rung FM-95 in Lahore, which could be heard in Lahore and its surrounding cities at a frequency of 95, The Post learnt here on Saturday. The channel will be run by Punjab Institution of Languages, Art and Culture.
While talking to The Post, Shaista Nuzhat, director, Punjab Institution of Languages, Art and Culture, said that the main objective of the Punjab government behind the launch of the FM channel in the province was to increase the literacy rate, promote the culture and great services of Sufi saints, integrate all the languages spoken in the Punjab and create awareness among the masses about the services and projects initiated by the government. She further said that after airing 10-day test transmissions, they had started its 18-hour transmissions from Saturday, though the formal launching ceremony of the channel was going to be held soon.
“Within one month, hopefully, the Punjab government will launch its six more FM channels across the province. The cities where these channels will be established are Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan and DG Khan. Beside these, there will be two mobile FM channels/units,” she said.Talking about mobile units, she said that these mobile units would not work like Rescue-1122 but beyond that.
Explaining it further, she said that major work of the mobile units would be to check beggary. “If someone sees any child begging at any corner of the city, he/she will immediately inform our mobile team. They will reach the spot immediately, pick that child from there and take him/her to a better, safe and healthy place.
After Lahore, the next channel would be launched in Multan. However, except Lahore, all other FM channels would be heard at a frequency of 99.4, she added.”The good thing about the transmission of these channels is that these can be heard across the Punjab province.
And to make it possible, the government has installed the most powerful transmitter of 4KW,” she added.Talking about the duration of the transmissions, she said that it would be for 18 hours starting from 7am to 12 noon. About the contents of the transmissions, she said that the transmissions would contain more public awareness stuff like importance of education for girls, gender discrimination, respect for women, health-related issues and so on.
It would also provide a platform to the agriculture market. The transmissions would also contain entertaining stuff for the listeners like old Pakistani songs that were mostly forgotten by the people, she added.”Up till now the government has started many projects for the people of the Punjab. But, unfortunately, majority of them are unaware of them.
For example, the government had provided small interest-free loans to poor farmers. But majority of farmers are unaware of this. So through this FM channel, we will try to convey messages to them and tell them what the government has done or is doing for them and how they can benefit from it,” she added.She told these channels would be completely non-commercial and would not contain any stuff or programme of advertisements.
When asked about the team of the channel, she said that they had hired a few senior and experienced people from the PBC. When asked about how the channel would be different from the rest of the private radio channels, she said, “The channel of the Punjab government will focus more on education and public awareness messages whereas other private FM channels are providing entertainment to the people.”
Source: The post
Date:9/10/2007
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