World Radio is a celebration of radio worldwide, held annually since 2012 on the 13th of February. In November 2011, at the request of the Spanish Radio Academy, UNESCO decided to dedicate a day of every year to celebrate radio broadcast, encourage international cooperation among radio broadcasters and pave the way for decision-makers to provide access to information through radio, including community radio.
Radio, man’s oldest communication friend, has a unique status to date and remains the medium to reach the widest audience. Even in the modern world of Netflix and in numerous social networks, radio has not only survived with its whole poise, it is currently taking up new technological forms and devices.
In Pakistan too, radio has evolved modishly over time since the inauguration of the Pakistan Broadcasting Service. Behind this astounding world of sounds, there are a number of devoted people who have gone the extra mile to keep the legacy of radio alive.
One of such names is Masood Mallhi. Masood is the only broadcaster of Pakistan who has worked in AM, FM, SW, LW, Satellite, Web and distance broadcasting mediums of radio. Originating from the city of Sheikhupura, Masood started his radio career in 1997 as a story narrator for a children’s program on Radio Pakistan, Lahore.
He became one of the first building blocks of FM101 in 1999 and went on air from there in 2000. Masood was the youngest voice at FM101 where he would get only half an hour announcement program. It didn’t take him long to make his way into the radio world.
My first proper program was approved at FM101, Faisalabad in 2001 as a compere. I was already working as a drama artist at Radio Lahore by then.
Mallhi soon made a name in private radio when he became the first voice of FM103 Faisalabad and then of sunrise radio FM 97, Hassan Abdal. Masood also worked at FM106.2 for 4 years as a transmission engineer.
His journey in the radio world didn’t stop at the national level and in 2010, Mallhi read his first news bulletin on Punjabi Radio, USA. He preceded to get his own Punjabi program at the biggest Punjabi Network of the world, which functions in 4 states of the US. According to Mallhi;
If you visit the website of Punjabi Radio USA, you will find my portfolio. I’m their correspondent in Pakistan. In 2013, I became the correspondent of the Punjabi service of Radio Australia in Pakistan. It made me the first correspondent for any state-owned international radio in Pakistan. I have been working with them since then.
Masood has also worked as a gazetted producer for the Punjab government-owned radio, FM95. In 2019 he joined Punjab University radio, an institute he holds great regard for. Mallhi expressed his gratitude towards the institute;
I work there as an audio editor but I also have additional charges of program producer, transmission supervisor, and transmission engineer. I fulfill all these duties in only one salary because of the love I have for the institution.
During his career, Mallhi has earned a number of awards. He has won two international awards for Punjab University. Mallhi’s most prominent work is his Punjabi drama Korh (leprosy), based on the life of German-born medical missionary “Ruth Pfau” who was hailed as the “Mother Teresa of Pakistan.” His drama won the first position worldwide in the Punjabi category of SPS Production, an annual competition held by Radio Australia. Mallhi considers it as his biggest achievement.
“I was prized with 1200 USD. I have kept the remittance of the prize as a souvenir at my house along with the trophy.”
Masood Mallhi, who started as a teenager who had just given his matriculation exams, has come a long way in the world of radio. He holds dual master’s degrees and is doing Mphill in National languages and Literature. These days, he is building an audio and radio studio in his house which will be equipped with all modern facilities. He also owns a collection of many radio sets.
Masood still works as a compere at Radio Pakistan. His program goes on-air every morning on Wednesday and Thursday. As the world celebrates World Radio Day, Mallhi is determined to keep the radio legacy alive.
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