Qurban Ali Sindhi Media- 9 electronic media - Eng

                Qurban Ali 

BS III Roll no 123                                   
 
Sindhi electronic media TV and Radio: 

سنڌي اليڪٽرانڪ ميڊيا ٽي وي ۽ ريڊيو:

The nascent Pakistan was equipped with Radios, but the TV Channels started to air in 1964 CE. However, in Europe and America, Television was common for the advertisement purpose after the World War II. But from 1940 CE and to the era of 1950-1960 CE, Television became so common that it would be used for the purposes other than just the advertisement. In 1956, a Pakistani industrialist Wajid Ali decided to build a TV station in Pakistan. For the completion of that purpose, in 1961 CE, a private broadcasting company was built. On 26^th November 1964, the very first NEWS was aired from that particular broadcasting service. 50% share for this initiative was of the government of that time. In 1971 CE, the TV channel was taken into national control under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government. In the beginning the TV channel did not use to air Sindhi NEWS but, after being taken under the government’s control, the TV channel started to broadcast program for 25 minutes and Sindhi NEWS for 5 minutes daily. Anees Memon read the NEWS for the first time in Sindhi electronic media in 1972 CE. Sehar Imdad, Fozia Qureshi, Rashida Hamirani, Taj Baloch, Mumtaz Sheikh, Khalil Channa, and Saleem Memon continued being the NEWS casters in this field after Anees Memon. With the continued development, the department for NEWS was built in Karachi where NEWS producers and NEWS casters were designated. The department is still there, and daily 5 minutes’ NEWS in Snidhi is aired. In 2002, General Pervez Musharraf's government allowed the private sector to set up a television channel. This way the Sindhi language’s very first TV channel Kavish Television Network (KTN) was established. Two years after this in October 2004 CE, another Sindhi TV channel – Sindh TV – was established. Followed by this, other Sindhi TV channels including Awaz TV, Dharti TV, and Mehran TV were also established. KTN after this specified “KTN NEWS” channel particularly for NEWS, “KTN” channel for Drama serials, and “Kashish” channel for songs. Similarly, Sindh TV specified another channel particularly for NEWS – Sindh TV NEWS. The headquarters of KTN, AWAZ, and Dharti TV are based in Karachi while Mehran TV’s headquarter is built in Hyderabad being Hyderabad’s very first Sindhi channel. KTN was established by Aslam Qazi and Ali Qazi; AWAZ TV was established by Sikander Jatoi; Sindh TV’s owner is Dr. Kareem Rajper; and Mehran TV was established by Ghulam Nabi Morai. Dharti TV was initiated by Abdul Qadir Mangi; however, its owners have been varied with time. Recently, it has come under the ownership of some Memon traders. With these channels the Sindhi journalism has changed significantly. People are capable of receiving NEWS in no time. The representatives and reporters of these channels have their network throughout the country, especially in Sindh. A large number of cameramen and journalists have stepped into media after these channels’ revolution in media. For the sake of Sindhi language, Aasha Chand and various friends have worked hard.

Radio also plays a significant role in electronic media. After the invention of radio in 1920 CE, India started a radio company very soon in 1926 CE. Soon after its establishment it took the shape of All-India radio. Before the partition, some radio stations were already built in Lahore and Peshawar which came in the share of Pakistan after the partition. A few more radio stations were built in Karachi and Rawalpindi. Karachi’s radio station was on a smaller level which, in 1950 CE, elevated sharply. In 1951 CE, another radio station came into being in Hyderabad. As the pace went on, the Khairpur radio station was established in 1974 CE and in 1995 CE Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto inaugurated the Larkana radio station. In the days of military President General Pervez Musharraf, when FM radio were allowed to be set up in the private sector through auction of licenses, Sindhi FM radio stations started to be established in every nook and corner of Sindh. During these days, Pakistan’s another FM radio was established in district Tharparkar’s headquarter, Mitthi. The FM radio of private sector are working in Karachi, Nooriabad, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Adam, Nawabshah, Dadu, Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Kashmore, and Umerkot. Except Karachi’s FM radio, others air the NEWS and programs in Sindhi language. These FM radios have their own websites. One can hear the live programs from those websites. Internet has also provided the facility to avail web radio. Using this facility, Imtiaz Odho has started Sindhi radio program – voice of Sindh – from London. The 'Radio Sindhi' has been going on in Mumbai for many years, which has six channels. The ‘Radio Sindhi’ airs voice of Sindh, radio NEWS, interviews, and current affairs’ NEWS. Radio Pakistan airs Sindhi programs from the very beginning, but the NEWS started to air later. In the days of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, due to the centrality, the Radio Pakistan used to be aired from Islamabad that is why Sindhi NEWS also used to be aired from there. Even now, Radio Pakistan airs three Sindhi NEWS bulletin during morning, day, and evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Many of Sindh’s leading personalities are associated with Radio Pakistan including Amar Jalil, Agha Saleem, Inayat Baloch, Nisar Memon, Naseer Mirza, Abdullah Veesar, Murad Ali Mirza, and Naseer Mirza. Murtaza Solangi served as a Managing Director of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation from 2008 CE to 2013 CE. Muratza Solangi was initially associated with print media but then he moved to America where he worked for the voice of America. However, Javed Soomro is working in London for BBC after working for the English Newspaper – The NEWS.

Practical work carried under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi 

Media & Communication Studies, University of Sindh