As a child artist I have been associated with Radio Pakistan, Lahore since 1956. My association continued as an adult approved voice of Radio Pakistan. I have been promoting melody music on Radio Pakistan’s programme ‘Hamare Mausiqar’ since five years now broadcasted live every Thursday from 11:05 p.m. to 12 midnight on channels; FM93Megahertz and MW 630Kilihertz. I do not remember missing a single programme whether the weather was hot, cold, foggy or rainy. One of the reasons for my punctuality has been the many calls that are received by the duty officer commenting on the programme from far flung areas proving the fact that radio still has wide listening. On November 29, I did my last live programme (on music composer Muslehuddin and played his songs ‘Zindigi Main Aik Pal Bhi Chin Aye Na’ from ‘Hamsafar’ (Saleem Raza and Nahid Niazi), ‘Magar Aei Haeena-e-Nzaneen Mujhe Tujh Sei Koi Gila Nahin’ from ‘Rehguzar’ (Saleem Raza), ‘Raat Chali Hei Jhoom Ke; by Ahmad Rushdi and Nahid Niazi and alike). Fifty calls were received by duty officer Mudassar Qadeer from all over Punjab, all I could do was announce their names and offer my thanks. Radio has had a brief history in Pakistan and is considered a rare commodity to those living and working in urban areas. However, for those in rural areas, radio is a medium for entertainment and information. Those directly adversely affected by this decision include Rehan Azhar (Sher-o-Naghma), Shaukia Zaheer (Paasbaan), Khalid Abbas Dar, Nasim Sindhu, Amjad Tufail, Asghar Zaidi, Khusrshid Ali, Afzaal Naqvi, Hajveri Bhatti (Ravi Rang), and many more. According to a conservative estimate the doors of Radio Pakistan have been closed on about 300 artists from all over Pakistan, depriving radio of use of rich experience in respective fields. Agreed, new talent must come up and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) Director Shafqat Jalil worked in this vain by inducting fresh comperes and RJs for Dhanak FM94 music channel. But their young age and lack of proper knowledge of the golden period of cinema, music and poetry is depriving them for making their presentations meaningful. In my opinion the information minister needs to take a second look at this decision.
Published in Daily Times, December 3rd 2018.