Daily Times

LARKANA: The writers, artists, researchers and poets of Writers Club, Larkana, deplored the order issued by the Deputy Controller (Home), Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Headquarters, Islamabad that no person beyond 60-years of age should be offer comparing/announcer duties in any station.

The order stated that as per superannuation policy no person beyond 60-years of age should be offer comparing/announcer duties in any station. However, they may be offered bookings as experts, analysts, script writers, drama voice over, narrators etc, only when required.

This Order has been sent to all station directors for strict compliance.

In this connection members of Writers Club Manzoor Kanasro, Inayat Memon, Jawad Jafri, Wahab Sahto and others while talking to Daily Times here on Sunday said that after 2008 as many as 500 people were appointed in the name of Resource Persons (RPs) on political basis and their monthly cost is approximately Rs 3 crore.

They said RPs do not work except drawing monthly salaries. They alleged that son of DG Shafqat Jalil and sons of Director Khurshid Malik are getting salaries between Rs 50,000 to one lakh per month without doing any work.

They further alleged that 11 RPs are working in Larkana alone and ten people are posted to work on contract basis, but they have no technical job except drawing monthly salaries which is why Radio Pakistan is facing crisis.

They said budget for one program in Radio Pakistan in Larkana and Khairpur is about Rs230,000, which includes payment to announcer and guest persons, but now RPs are being paid which has created crisis in Radio Pakistan.

They further argued that there is no age limit for artists and writers by BBC,VOA, PTV or any other organization in the world which has proved that Radio Pakistan is being occupied by illiterate persons.

They said that previously the authorities had also taken such decision, but the same was withdrawn after realizing their own mistake. The Writers Club, Larkana, has termed this order as unethical and considers it a joke for international media and urged the federal government to take notice and withdraw the order as it will also deprive the people of their expertise and long experience.