New PTV channel launched
LAHORE, : Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali has said the country’s ideological identity and national values must be protected at all costs no body will be allowed to harm Pakistan.
This he stated after inaugurating the new 24-hour digital satellite channel PTV National at the PTV’s Lahore Centre.
Chairman Senate Muhammadmian Soomro, Speaker National Assembly Ch Amir Hussain, Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid, Punjab Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi, Chairman PTV and Secretary Information Anwar Mehmood were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan was continuously making progress and had now launched its fourth channel while Doordarshan had lagged behind.
He said world had become a global village and its two most important aspects are the economic factor and the media factor and we cannot ignore them.
He hoped that PTV National will work to improve the political situation by improving the communication between the peoples of the four provinces. “We should be able to communicate with the people of other provinces who speak different languages. We have been laying more emphasis on English and Urdu because of the former being an international language and the latter being our common language. But it is time we start real communication in local languages.”
He criticised the politicians who he said loved to give interviews to foreign channels and spoke against the country. “PTV has never done such a thing and never will”, he added.
Mir Zafarullah Jamali announced one-month bonus for PTV employees but kept silent about the other demand made by the Information Minister and Secretary Information.
He made no commitment about the provision of Rs 100 million that will be needed to make PTV National a terrestrial channel which would enable people, who do not have access to satellite channels, to watch it. At present the channel can be viewed by people with cable TV access or those who have their own digital receivers for satellite channels.
The PM said that he was a student in Lahore when PTV was launched from Lahore in November 1964. “I remember the exuberance then and I feel honoured that I have come back here as a Prime Minister and launched this channel which no doubt is a historic moment. It is interesting that people who call TV an instrument of obscenity also take interest in it,’ Jamali added.
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid speaking on the occasion revealed that soon two other channels, PTV Sports and PTV Home, will also be launched.
Chairman PTV Anwar Mahmood revealed that Rs 400 million announced by Prime Minister Jamali for the PTV have been received. “The process of tenders has been completed and orders for modern equipment including the latest cameras have been given. The money will be utilised before June 30 to modernise the PTV.”
He said PTV National will be made a terrestrial channel within six months and for the purpose 11 transmitters will be needed. He also requested the Prime Minister to allocate Rs 100 million for the purpose.
Twenty-two people suggested the name PTV National for the new channel. The name of Muhammad Shafi Bhatti of Rawalpindi was drawn out in a lucky draw. He would be given Rs 100,000 as prize money.
Artistes from all the four provinces performed in different languages. Muhammad Bashir presented a Balochi song while Rahim Shah presented a Pushto song in his hip hop style. Naseebo Lal presented a Punjabi song while Taj Mastana enthralled the audience with a Sindhi song. The programme was conducted by Mustansar Hussain, Noorul Hassan and Maria Wasti.
The artistes and celebrities present on the occasion included City District Nazim Lahore Mian Amir Mehmood, Usman Peerzada, Tariq Aziz, Justice (Retd) Nasim Hasan Shah, Samina Ahmed, Jameel Fakhri, Shahid Nadeem, Aurangzeb Leghari, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Kh Hasaan, Naeem Tahir, Yasmin Tahir, Naghma Begum, Shaukat Ali, Reshma, Ghayyur Akhtar, Nisar Qadri, Khalid Asghar, Reema and Shahida Mini.
