DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) on Friday launched the Sautul Quran FM channel at Dera Ismail Khan Station as part of its countrywide network to widely spread Islam’s message of peace and brotherhood.

The launching of the much-needed service coincided with 36th birth anniversary of the Dera Ismail Khan station, which was founded in 1981. On auspicious occasion, the district radio station also witnessed ground-breaking ceremony of its broadcasting house building which was performed by Radio Pakistan Director General Khurshid Ahmed Malik.

The director general said performing launch of a dedicated channel for broadcasting recitation of the Holy Quran gave him a sense of pride because it was a great service and would get its reward hereafter as well. He also expressed gratitude to Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal for extending cooperation for launching of Sautul Quran network of the Radio Pakistan.

He said such initiatives of the present government would be written with golden words in the country’s history. He said that such channels had already been inaugurated in 16 cities and 24 more transmitters of the network would be installed in next phase to spread Islam’s true message to every nook and corner of the world.

He said that PBC was taking concrete measures for putting Dera Ismail Khan Station on modern line, adding installation of 100KW powerful transmitter was part of such efforts. He also appreciated the station’s staff for performing excellently in cramped conditions and despite limited resources, adding with construction of the new broadcasting house, which was being completed at a cost of Rs 10 million, would resolve such problems.

He announced to provide Rs 500,000 to the station director for utilization on those works which needed immediate attention. He also directed the concerned officials of the station to provide a set of separate summaries, reflecting requirements of the station to fulfill them, adding periodic inspection of those initiatives would be carried out for their timely completion.

He said genuine demands of the station would be met in order to ensure suitable environment for all the employees especially female staff who had to face challenges while working outside their houses. Employees of the stations also expressed their views with renewed commitment to continue with same dedication for achieving new heights of development.

Later talking to media persons, the director general said that newly launched channel would air recitation of the holy Quran with translation from 5 am to12 pm. He said that Radio Pakistan was effectively highlighting the development-oriented initiatives of the government especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which was game changer for both the country.

He said that Radio Pakistan was playing important part for ensuring peaceful environment for completion of the billions of dollar project by creating awareness among people in this regard.