PBA PRESS RELEASE DATED 13.03.2020

ISLAMABAD, March 13: The competent forum of Planning Commission of Pakistan, relating to mass media giving a green signal to Digital Radio Migration Plan has directed the concerned authorities to submit the overall digitization project for consideration and approval in a single go instead of phases.

This was stated by Director Engineering, PBC Kamran Saeed at the concluding ceremony of five-day workshop on “Digital Radio Migration Plan” at Pakistan Broadcasting Academy today.

He informed the audience that the plan is to be executed at a total estimated cost of 4129.882 million rupees over the next five to seven years.

Kamran Saeed along with two DRM certified and foreign qualified PBC Engineers Ghulam Mujadid and Yasir Mustafa is spearheading the entire planning for the proposed Digital Radio Migration Policy under the direct supervision of Director General, Radio Pakistan Ambreen Jan.

Ghulam Mujadid and Yasir Mustafa, Engineering Managers of PBC who conducted four sessions each of the workshop have recently received expert level training from Germany on DRM transmission system and as the second part of training; they will soon be proceeding to USA.

Kamran said the first ever workshop on the subject has attracted wide coverage in the national electronic and print media, sensitizing the people who matter to play their role in early approval and exestuation of the DRM plan.

He said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information & Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has sought details about the one thousand kilowatt Digital Transmitting station to be established at Fort Monroe in district Dera Ghazi Khan to take up the matter with Chief Minister Punjab about early acquisition of land for the project.

Addressing the ceremony as chief guest Director Administration, PBC Mahmood-ul-Hassan Akhtar expressed the determination to materialize Prime Minister’s Imran Khan Vision of promoting digitization in the country in each and every sector including Radio Pakistan to meet the upcoming challenges in the broadcasting arena. He hoped that all the concerned forums and top authorities would help expedite approval and execution of digital radio migration policy with early provision of required funds

He said proposed digital transmission would not only help improve the sound quality of radio Pakistan but would also be cost effective.

Mahmood-ul-Hassan hoped that the first batch of PBC engineers from all over the country who attended the workshop on DRM policy would serve as torch bearers for implementation of the digitization project.

Earlier, addressing the participants Principal Pakistan Broadcasting Academy, Muhammad Tariq Chaudhry said PBA would be forthcoming if the higher authorities ask for a series of workshops on digital radio migration policy to impart training to all the PBC professionals covering different aspects of the plan and digital technology. He thanked PBC authorities for extending full support to PBA for smooth conduct of the week-long workshop.

Later, souvenirs were awarded to the distinguished guests and the Executives of sponsors of the workshop including HEDRA Technology and Element99Solutions, while certificates were given to the participants.

About thirty engineering professionals from Radio Pakistan and private sector attended the workshop.