[HCDX] VOA Signs Historic Agreement to Put Aap Ki Dunia On FM 101 Across Pakistan

["Alokesh Gupta" <alokesh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Voice Of America Signs Historic Agreement to Put Aap Ki Dunia On FM 101 Across
Pakistan
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By Shazia Khan
Washington, D.C., July 9, 2004 -- In an historic agreement, the Broadcasting Board of
Governors (BBG) signed a contract with Clarity Communications Pakistan that will
allow listeners across that country to hear the new Urdu-language Radio Aap ki Dunyaa
on the FM 101 Network.
The agreement - signed by BBG Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson and Syed Asif Salahuddin,
Clarity's CEO - means that for the first time millions of Pakistanis will have
easier, improved access to Aap ki Dunyaa by listening to FM radio. The new,
fast-paced Urdu service of the Voice of America (VOA) first went on the air May 10 on
medium wave (AM) 972Hz. "Pakistan is a vitally important country and we're pleased to
be able to provide information and programming to so many people," said Tomlinson,
head of the agency that oversees all U.S. nonmilitary international broadcasting.
"This is a major achievement for which congratulations are due all around," added
Gov. Steven J. Simmons, who spearheaded the drive to put Aap ki Dunyaa - "Your World"
in English - on the air. "I know our listeners in Pakistan, many of whom are young
people between the ages of 15 and 39, will appreciate the range and variety of Aap ki
Dunyaa's informative, entertaining programs."
Salahuddin called the agreement "a very good initiative" between Pakistan and the
United States. "This new partnership will provide an opportunity to eliminate
misconceptions, and will inform the Pakistani people about the world, and
particularly about the American community, including Pakistanis living in the United
States." Under the agreement, Clarity, which leases large blocks of time on the FM
101 Network from Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, will air Aap ki Dunyaa twice a
day in the morning and the evening. The broadcasts begin immediately.
Those cities are Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Quetta, Sialkot, Peshawar
and Hyderabad. They have a combined population of 23 million, which is about 15
percent of the country's total population. The popular FM 101 Network will complement
the existing options for listening to Aap ki Dunyaa. Since its launch, the station
has been available for 12 hours a day, from 7 p.m.-7 a.m., on a medium wave (AM)
signal - 972kHz -- that reaches listeners in Pakistan and northeast India. It is also
broadcast for three hours on shortwave (7 to 8 p.m., 10 to 11 p.m., and 6 to 7 a.m.
Pakistan time).
It is also carried for 12 hours on digital audio satellite and via the Internet
(www.voanews.com/urdu). Internet enhancements will be phased in, providing audience
interaction through e-mail, and texts of selected feeds, interviews, and other
programs of interest to the listening audience.
Aap ki Dunyaa's regular programming features 10-minute newscasts twice an hour during
most of prime time and hourly newscasts throughout the night. The service provides
in-depth coverage of events affecting South Asia and the world; features on topics
such as health, education, and political issues; call-in shows; roundtable
discussions; and a mix of Pakistani, Indian, and Western music. With its combination
of news and features, about half of Aap ki Dunyaa's unique programming consists of
information.
Aap ki Dunyaa is staffed by 27 people in Washington as well as a network of more than
15 stringers in Pakistan, India and North America. Dr. Brian Q. Silver is chief of
the service. All staffers from the original VOA Urdu Service are now part of the Aap
ki Dunyaa team.
The BBG is an independent federal agency which supervises all U.S.
government-supported non-military international broadcasting, including the Voice of
America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL); the Middle Television
Network (Alhurra); Radio Free Asia (RFA); Office of Cuban Broadcasting (Radio and TV
Martí); Radio Sawa and Radio Farda. The services broadcast in 55 languages to over
100 million people around the world.
Nine members comprise the BBG, a presidentially appointed body. Current governors are
Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey
Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman, Norman J. Pattiz, Veronique Rodman and Steven Simmons.
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell serves as an ex officio member.
(www.thepakistaninewspaper.com)

Regds,
Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi, India.



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