The Government of Japan has extended assistance to Radio Pakistan to replace years old obsolete technology through a project for “Rehabilitation of Medium Wave Radio Broadcasting Network,” implemented by Japan’s International Cooperation Agency.

The equipment includes newly installed transmitters, a master control room and five studio rooms, which were funded by a  Japanese grant of 1.39 billion Japanese Yen.

The project enables Radio Pakistan to reach out to approximately 64 million people in northern Pakistan.

After the revival of transmitting network under this project, radio can reach the areas of 500km radius covering most part of Punjab, entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Gilgit Baltistan.

The project has supported PBC and Radio Pakistan Islamabad in replacing old medium wave transmitters in Faqirabad with high powered dual mode transmitters and renovated a master control room and five studios of National Broadcasting House, Islamabad. In case of disasters and crises, medium wave radio broadcasting by the government of Pakistan is instrumental in informing people of situations on the ground and emergency support such as food and shelters.

Radio services are equally beneficial in peace-times for providing information and promoting people’s awareness of education, health and many other social and economic issues.

Due to its 36-year-old transmitters, PBC had to reduce its area coverage and shorten broadcasting hours, hence, this project will revive and enhance the capacity of their current service significantly.