The country is to get a new national TV station broadcasting out of Pakistan, for Pakistan! Until this weekend the only national service with studios actually within the country was PTV. Now the country has its first privately owned station, Mashriq TV launching from state of the art studios in Lahore.
Chairman of Mashriq TV is Mr Tufail Ahmad. He said "For many years it has been my dream to give my fellow countrymen a TV station that really understands their needs. That entertains them and promotes our rich culture. That dream could only be realised by establishing a station within Pakistan not setting up a channel in a foreign country and beaming a signal in."
Mashriq's shows will be made and produced in Pakistan bringing new jobs, investment and developing new talent. the new station's objective will be to promote Pakistani culture and arts. The station is confident that it will quickly be seen in 75 per cent of Pakistani homes bringing a great selection of news and general entertainment shows. And while other stations are broadcasting shows into Pakistan from abroad, Mashriq TV will be doing the exact opposite by sending its signal all over the region from Lahore! That means viewers in Middle Eastern and other South Asian countries will be able to watch and enjoy original Pakistan programming and news.
Tufail Ahmad says "We are proud to be Pakistani and Mashriq TV will be like a window for the rest of the region to look into our country and see the exciting things that are happening here." Mashriq TV was awarded the 15 year licence by PEMRA on September the 27th 2003 after a 2 year campaign against fierce competition from many other bidders.
