A Brief History of Radio Pakistan

Radio has had a brief history in Pakistan and is considered as a rare commodity to those living and
working in urban areas. However, with those in rural areas, radio is a medium for entertainment and
information. This creates an opportunity and a reach for businesses attempting to capture the attention
of consumers. Advertising in radio has a low cost in investment with a high rate of return. Radio is a
medium that is available to everyone, everywhere.
Radio Pakistan was formed on 14th August 1947 when Pakistan became independent. It was a direct
descendant of the Indian Broadcasting Company which later became All India Radio. At independence
Pakistan possessed three radio stations at Dhaka, Lahore and Peshawar. A major programme
of expansion saw new stations opened at Karachi and Rawalpindi in 1948, and a new broadcasting
house at Karachi in 1950. This was followed by further stations at Hyderabad (1951), Quetta (1956), a
second station at Rawalpindi (1960) and a receiving centre at Peshawar (1960).
Radio Pakistan reaches 80% of the area of the country and 96.5% of the total population of Pakistan and
is broadcasted in 21 different languages. Half of airplay devoted to information and education while
other airplay devoted to entertainment. (sports and music)
-General Program Categories:
Music
Religion
News and current affairs
Women, Children, & Labor
Youth-Students
Forces
Rural & Farm
Drama/Features
Publicity Campaigns
Science, Technology, Health
Sports
Radio Pakistan was and still is a pro government station. It only broadcasts programs in favor of
government and never against it. But when there was no FM station, it was the only source of
entertainment for the people.

Pakistan is comprised of about 46,000 villages and 70 percent of its rural population is directly or
indirectly involved in farming. Agriculture sector has received high priority in our national development
plans because of its significant contribution to the overall development of the country.
Mass media, including radio, rank at the top in the awareness and interest stages of learning. Radio
communication one of the fastest, most powerful and in many countries the only way of communicating
with rural people. It reaches people of all cultural, social, educational and economic levels very quickly
among those who understand the language of transmission.
In Pakistan, radio has played a significant role in bringing awareness and technological change in rural
masses through the introduction of special programs called Farm Broadcasts. These programs were
introduced by Radio Pakistan in December 1966 from its Peshawar, Lahore and Hyderabad stations,
daily for 30 minutes in the evening. These programs transmitted under different titles from each station
were warmly welcomed by the rural masses. Having received encouragement from the rural sector,
these programs also started to broadcast from the remaining stations of Radio Pakistan. Now almost all
stations of Radio Pakistan (except Karachi and Islamabad) transmit agricultural programs for a duration
of 15 to 60 minutes daily. Some stations broadcast this program in two segments, one during mid-day
and the other during the evening transmission.