FPCCI, radio stations owners join hands to create awareness

Islamabad: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Pakistan Association of Independent Radio Stations (PAIRS) on Friday joined hands to create awareness and positive attitude among masses and business community.

The decision took place in a meeting between Vice President FPCCI Mirza Abdul Rehman and President PAIRS Sheikh Waseem Ahmed.

Chairman Coordination FPCCI Atif Ikram Sheikh and office bearers of PAIRS including Joseph J Dial, Sheikh Zahid Iqbal, Kamran Khawaja and Wajih Akhtar of InterMedia were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at the occasion, Mirza Abdul Rehman said that FM radio is a very effective tool which can help transform society. He asked the radio station owners to engage masses to ensure positive tendencies in different communities.

He said that even the best technology will ultimately fail if no one wants to use it, therefore government, business community and companies should promote radio business in their own interest.

Chairman Coordination FPCCI Atif Ikram Sheikh also spoke on the occasion. He said that recent radio boom is an unprecedented which is changing the life of the country in ways that few could have envisioned.

Unlike newspapers and TV channels, radio delivers immediate information allowing listeners to be a part of it the moment it occurred.

President PAIRS Sheikh Waseem Ahmed said that radio is getting popular and now it is bundled with of cellphones, washing machines, torches and refrigerators. Listening radio is not subjected to availability of electricity, he added.

He said that some radio stations have helped resolve community conflicts in remote areas. The radio industry needs attention of government and regulators so that it can boost contribution to the society and economy, said Joseph J Dial.

He said that radio offers some key benefits over other media, it is communicated orally, use local language, and at relatively low cost that make it is accessible to people who cannot access other media.

We need to link with national broadcasters and global networks to take our messages to the country-wide and global level, said Dial.