Radio Pakistan

"This is Radio Pakistan and I am Jehan Ara Saeed ..."
Between 1950 and 1973, heard before each English news bulletin

QSL card showing frequencies for all stations (1954)

At Independence, Karachi did not have a radio station. In 1948, Radio Pakistan Karachi Station started operations from the Intelligence School building on Queens Road (now M.T. Khan Road). A year later, it moved to its current location on M.A. Jinnah Road. Its first Director General was Zulfiqar Ali (Z.A.) Bukhari (1904 - 1975). In 1955, the National Anthem was sung for the first time by a group of 11 major singers including Ahmed Rushdi, Shameen Bano, Kaukab Jahan, Najam Ara, Akhtar Abbas and Anwar Zaheer (ref: Pakistani Embassy in Japan). A 2007 fire destroyed its archives and other historical material.

Amongst some of this Station's well known personalities who started out then are singers: Ahmed Rushdi (1934 - 1983) and S.B. John (born 1934); television, stage and radio artist: Mahmood Ali (1928 - 2008), better known for portraying the Maulvi (Cleric) in PTV's Taleem-e-Balighan (Adult Education); children's programme specialist and Nigar Award winner, Munni Baji (1929-2007) and English newscaster, Jehan Ara Saeed (died 2007).

Ahmed Rushdi (1958) 

In 1954, Ahmed Rushdi sang Bunder Road se Kemari (From Bunder Road to Kemari) for a children's programme. He would later gain fame as a playback singer. Amongst his popular songs are Akele na jaana (Don't go alone) and Ko ko Korina from Pakistan's first Platinum Jubilee (75 weeks running in cinemas) film, Armaan (1966) starring Waheed Murad and Zeba, for which he also won the Nigar Award.

1960 RADIO PAKISTAN BUILDING,KARACHI