Pakistan Earthquake Relief & Rehabilitation Communication 2005-06 - Student-run radio for awareness-raising inaugurated in Muzaffarabad

The FM-104 radio station was set up by UNICEF, WHO and the Mass Communication Department of the University of the Punjab. It began its test transmission on November 23 and now offers programs from 9 am to 9 pm. The station is run by rotating teams of 12 students each.

Mr. Durrani, who is Chairman of the National Volunteer Movement, appreciated the volunteer spirit of the students. “The volunteerism of the Pakistani people needs to be learned by the leader of every institution, every political party and the national leadership,” he said.

Mr. Farooq Haider, Media Advisor to the AJK Prime Minister, and Mr. Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry, Advisor to the AJK President, were among four AJK ministers who attended the station’s formal inauguration.

“The University of Punjab is a trendsetter. We have set the trend of helping in mental relief, mental reconstruction and mental rehabilitation,” said Major General (Retd.) Arshad, Vice Chancellor of the University of Punjab. He also reiterated the University’s offer to the AJK government of any physical or human resource required to help re-establish the AJK University in Muzaffarabad. He said that AJK University students had been given admission in Punjab University without any formality or fee.

The FM-104 radio transmission focuses on hygiene and water, environment and sanitation issues like sanitation, use of latrines, hand washing and safe water, and health issues like mother and child health, protection from diarrhoea, ARI, routine and special immunization campaign, as well as other subjects.

“UNICEF is proud to be part of the FM-104 initiative and would be happy to support other such initiatives for radio and television to reach affected families and communities for better health, hygiene and rehabilitation,” said Mr. Munir Safieldin, Chief of UNICEF’s AJK Office. “UNICEF is working closely with the government of AJK to revitalize Primary Health Care, bring children back to school, promote better hygiene and sanitation and provide safe water supplies.”

UNICEF and WHO are distributing thousands of radio sets in the affected districts and organizing Radio Listeners Groups to increase the number of people hearing radio transmissions.

“The University of Punjab is to be appreciated for taking the lead in setting up this channel and running and dedicated transmission for the relief effort,” said Mr. Shahid Humayun, Executive Member of PEMRA. “Within a few days of the earthquake, PEMRA tried to contribute to the relief efforts in its own way by immediately issuing licenses for radio channels for the affected areas.”

UNICEF also recently signed an agreement on awareness-raising programming in the affected areas with FM-100, which will be collaborating with FM-104 in Muzaffarabad.

The radio station and radio sets are part of an Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Communication Plan for raising awareness in the affected areas on hygiene, water and sanitation, health and nutrition and child protection.

The Ministry of Environment is leading communication activities related Hygiene and WES and has set up an Emergency Hygiene and WES Communication Unit to serve as a focal point.