Fawad soothes Radio Pakistan employees

Convinces them to end protest; PPP, PML-N leaders back their demand

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Communication convinced disenchanted Radio Pakistan employees who held demonstration outside the headquarters on Monday against the decision of government to shift the building to a new location.

Hundreds of Radio Pakistan employees gathered outside Radio Pakistan Headquarter building in Islamabad and chanted slogans against government’s move of shifting Radio Pakistan to Pakistan Broadcasting Academy (PBA).

Responding to their queries and worries of protestors, Fawad held talks with their representatives and told them that “the headquarters is not being shifted within a month”. He assured them that the government would not take any step in the regard without consulting them.
PPP senior leaders including Farhatullah Babar, Khursheed Shah, Nafisa Shah and Former Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb met the protesters and expressed solidarity with them.

The Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Fawad Chaudhry last week announced that the building of Radio Pakistan will be given on lease to build Pak Media University and in this regard the government had asked for proposal from the department concerned.



This unexpected announcement by the government had caused panic among the employees.

One of the employees told The Express Tribune that it was not possible to shift the Radio Pakistan to a small congested place. He said it has a huge setup and it is impossible to run it from a small building having few rooms.
He said that there are around 20 studios equipped with latest technology moreover there are several other departments inside the office building that cannot be operated from a small building.

Aurangzeb urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government to avoid taking the step. She said that the opposition would support the government for reforms but nothing should be done against interest of national institutions.

Later the protest was called off by the employees till the next meeting with the information minister.