Radio Pakistan: alone and desolate

The canteen is deserted, corridors are silent, a few artists sitting in the lawn. Welcome to Radio Pakistan, Lahore.

LAHORE: The canteen is deserted, the corridors are silent and the only source of sound is a few artists sitting in the lawn, talking about days gone by. Welcome to Radio Pakistan, Lahore.

Situated on the busy Empress Road, the Radio Pakistan building was once one of the most crowded buildings in the area. This is no longer the case. Now the atmosphere in the building is silent and gloomy, with hardly another soul in sight.

“The radio isn’t the same as it once used to be,” an employee tells The Express Tribune. The state-run radio once used to be a favourite hub for artists, musicians and singers but now there is barely any work for them as entertainment, especially classical music, is neglected at the radio. The management cites different reasons including financial constraints for the lack of recordings; however it fails to explain how Radio Pakistan surrendered Rs1.4 million last year if it faces financial problems.

A senior official said, “We have suspended recordings for the time being but some still take place.” However, light classical music hasn’t been recorded in the last one-and-a-half years and now; even the recordings of classical music have come to a grinding halt. “These institutions were formed to facilitate artists. If the radio just wants to run news bulletins, it should retire its music producers and save money. No music producer has been asked to retire or been fired despite the fact that recordings having stopped. Music producers have no role at the station if music isn’t being recorded. It is quite odd that those were hired to manage music affairs are still being paid while artistes aren’t getting work,” said an artiste who wished to remain anonymous.

The Express Tribune also spoke to the contractor of the canteen. “Nowadays the canteen remains deserted for most of the day. Previously you could see artistes sitting at the canteen for hours but now, we rarely get a visitor.” A large percentage of the canteen owner’s business comes from serving tea to the officers and permanent employees.

Another contractual employee of Radio Pakistan said that they always feel like a sword is hanging above their heads. “We are the one who have to handle the majority of the radio’s affairs and ironically, we are the ones who have to face the wrath of high officials whenever something goes wrong,” he said.

Radio Pakistan Lahore Director Khalid Waqar wasn’t available for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2010.