Balochistaniyat (ISSN: 2305-1345) Volume 8, 2019 Radio in Balochistan: An analysis of FM Radio Channels Operating in Quetta Imran Khan* Abstract: There is no doubt that the FM radio has influenced almost every society around the globe. It also correlates the interaction of the listeners with its environment and surroundings. Radio is the most effective tool of communication since its birth. Before the arrival of television, radio was an important part of household. The transmission of radio is almost available in every part of the country. With advent of technology and availability of resources the FM radio channels were also encouraged to operate. Although the primary purpose of FM radio was entertainment and information, which made it rapidly popular across the country. As its popularity increased across Pakistan, it also became popular in Quetta. This study discusses the emergence and growth of radio in Balochistan and also analyzes FM radio operations in Quetta city. Key Words: FM Radio, Quetta, Balochistan, Music, Entertainment Introduction There are some social needs of a man and communication is one of the most important among these needs. The communication or need to interact with others is the biggest need that requires to be fulfilled. In the modern era when the world has transformed into a global village, it is important for man to be * M.Phil Scholar, Department of Media Studies UoB, Quetta. 10 Imran Khan aware of the changes taking place around him. Without getting aware of the changes around the survival is very difficult. This need can be fulfilled by means of media. FM is an important medium of communication (Alexander, 1983, p.129). Radio generally and FM radio specially are means of informal education to the masses as well as means of entertainment. It is an important source of communication for the people of Pakistan. The role of FM radio in Balochistan has evolved to great extant. Along with the entertainment, the FM is being used as a source of formal education. It is also being used to discuss the matters happening in Balochistan, Pakistan and around the globe. The growth of FM in Balochistan is important because the availability of modern media devices and cables network is not wide spread in the major areas of Balochistan except few cities of Balochistan. For the past two decades, FM radio had a growth in Balochistan. After the privatization of airwaves in Pakistan, new FM radio stations emerged. This led to motivate new emerging classes to seek information from the FM radio. Free global opportunities have opened more chances for businesses in most countries in the media as well as in FM radio in the world (Weismann & Brosius, 1996). The study discusses the emergence of new FM radio stations and failure of the state owned medium to meet the expectations of the listeners which is also a major cause of the growth of the privately-owned FM radio stations generally in Pakistan and specifically in Balochistan. Majority of opinions also revealed that first radio station was functional in the colonial regime and used as the medium for propaganda purposes (Fisher, 2001). 11 Balochistaniyat (ISSN: 2305-1345) Volume 8, 2019 Understanding the changing attitude of the listeners in urban communities is also used to bring the fact that state owned media sometimes adopt the authoritative posture towards the audience. This gave the strength to the notion that the state-owned radios work as mouth piece of the ruling government and not to be trusted anymore (Waisbord, 2001). The technological advancement has also motivated the growth of FM radio stations in Balochistan. It is also observed that the operation mode FM radio station operation mode has both clarity and sound quality. Even cell phone with radio listening device has further increased the listenership. The increasing number of vehicles carrying audio devices has also increased the FM radio listenership. The road transportation has led to more ownership of vehicles in Balochistan. As a result, there are good number of vehicles on the roads and highways of capital city of Balochistan. Thus, this change has played a very important role in the development and growth of the FM radios in Balochistan (Khan, 2011, p.45). Impact of FM radio stations All over the world FM radio has emphasized the entertainment in their program structures. One third of the FM radio stations have given priority to music and cultural programs while some have run most of their on-air time on advertisements. It is also important to mention that the FM radio stations promote the destination of community information towards productive ventures. Music is one of the most popular contents among the listeners. News and other related programs on culture and civilization also take much of the time than other program in Balochistan. In Balochistan, FM radio has maintained comparatively traditional approach towards cultural programs of Brahui, Balochi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu have good number of listeners. 12 Imran Khan Radio was an attractive invention for its users. Radio is recognized as one of the cheapest medium of information and entertainment worldwide. When it comes to its effectiveness and communication, it is known as easily available source of communication (Mattelart & Mattelart, 1998). Radio was an opening door for other inventions also. Radio not only grabs listeners as a source of information but according to historians and social scientists radio proved itself a tool of social mobilization as well. Those who remained unable to read and write were remaining dependable on radio (Azmat, 2004). “The invention of the radio has been called by the social scientist and thinkers as the dawn of a new age like the invention of wheels, the printing press and steam locomotion. Radio has put a strange fascination over the minds of human being” (Crook, 1998). Radio Pakistan Quetta A small medium wave station in Quetta was established in October 17th, 1956, with 1-KW transmitter. It was the first broadcast station in Balochistan started functioning in a rented building on Sariab Road with only few hours broadcast in the evening. Radio Pakistan Quetta steadily progressed and now it is the biggest station of the country with its multilingual programs of over thirty hours a day. It is situated in a beautiful building in the heart of the city with modern studios and three channels to broadcast programs in different languages programs at a time. The new building of Radio Pakistan Quetta was completed in 1961 and the unit was shifted from Mekran House Sariab Road to the new premises on Shara-e-Ghalib in 1962. On June 1, 1961, a 10-KW medium wave transmitter 13 Balochistaniyat (ISSN: 2305-1345) Volume 8, 2019 was installed which and increasing the radius of broadcast of the Quetta station. On October 17, 1962 another 10-KW short wave transmitter was installed at Sariab Road, Quetta, which improved daytime listening in far flung areas of the provinces. On April 25th 1974, a 150- KW medium wave high powered transmitter was commissioned at Yaru near Pishin, some 25 miles and thus its broadcasts range expended beyond the geographical frontiers of Pakistan and reached to neighboring countries Afghanistan, Iran, Gulf States and even in Saudi Arabia. Emergence of FM Radio in Pakistan and PEMRA’s Role PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) ordinance was promulgated in Pakistan in March 2002. The enforcement of PEMRA ordinance was to facilitate the audience. The said ordinance changed into the establishment an authority called Pakistan electronic media regularity authority. The objective of PEMRA was to ensure and broaden the choice availability for the public in the field of media for current affairs, news, religious, education, culture, art, science and technology, economic development, social concerns, drama, music, sports, social sector development and subjects in the best interests of Pakistani nation. The privatization of the air waves and permission to the private FM radio stations to operate in all the provinces of Pakistan. A total of around 129 FM Radio licenses have been issued to FM Radio stations with the objectives of Education and Entertainment through open and transparent bidding. Out of these 110 are functional, there are four FM radio stations working in Balochistan. These radio stations are working and broadcasting the 14 Imran Khan programmes related to education, music, current affairs, news, health, civic hygiene, local social issues, economics, commerce and trade. Recurrence Tweak radio made its introduction in Pakistan inside the year 1995, as another social shape. For the initial years its entrance was limited to best three metropolitan, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad under non-open belonging exclusively conceded to handiest one organization. Later on, Pakistan Broadcasting Association additionally began FM, radio telecom underneath the title of FM 101 in October 1998. At first handiest for three towns, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Today there are eight FM 101 stations and six ordinary FM stations working and exhibiting content totally for happiness (Mukhi, 2001, p.447). FM Channels Operating in Quetta. FM 101 Quetta The pioneer channel of FM in Balochistan is FM 101. It started transmission in 2002 under the influence of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. Its transmission can be listened in the area of 30km and sometimes even at the radius of 50 it can be listened. In the beginning, its transmission duration was 12 hours but now its transmission is 24 hours. FM 101 on-air its transmission in four languages, including Urdu, Pashto, Brauhvi and English. Under the influence of PBC the radio 101 is bound to follow the guidelines and policies devised by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. The 24 hours of transmission is based on mutual exchange of ideas and on any topic of the day.