Radio Pakistan bailout

Can anyone imagine that the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Pakistan) – the institution that proudly announced the ‘This is Pakistan Broadcasting Service’ in 1947 and marked the country’s emergence on the global stage – is now on the verge of collapse due to mismanagement by administrative personnel? Basic and legitimate facilities have been systematically withdrawn, leaving only monthly salaries and pensions barely intact. Even the government’s approved budgetary increases for FY2024-25 have yet to be disbursed to employees – an unprecedented situation in Radio Pakistan’s history. Even arrears from the 2023-24 budget remain partially unpaid to this day, compounding the financial distress faced by the staff. The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) proudly stands as the only national medium that broadcasts programmes in nearly all the regional languages of Pakistan, airing approximately 1,500 hours daily through its 32 broadcasting houses across the country.

With a combined strength of around 7,500 individuals, PBC plays an indispensable role in national integration and public service broadcasting. Given its vital mandate and limited capacity for revenue generation, it is the government’s responsibility to bridge the gap between PBC’s income and expenditures. Unfortunately, the organisation is currently facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Basic and long-standing entitlements have been discontinued. Apart from basic pay and pensions, even essential dues to retired employees and their families remain unpaid, in clear violation of existing rules. PBC urgently requires the government to approve a Rs6 billion bailout package – similar to the support extended to other entities – to ensure its sustainability and continued service to the nation.

Ansarul Haque

Karachi