Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Addresses PTV’s 61st Anniversary Ceremony
Multan : — Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, while addressing a graceful ceremony held at PTV Multan on the occasion of Pakistan Television’s 61st anniversary, said that PTV is not only a national institution of information and entertainment but also a true representative of the diverse cultural, linguistic, musical and literary heritage of Pakistan. He announced that PTV Multan Centre will be upgraded in line with modern requirements to more effectively project the cultural identity of South Punjab at the global level.
The ceremony was attended by Director Programmes Saif-ud-Din, General Manager PTV Multan Shafqat Abbas Malik, renowned poetess Suraiya Multani, Malik Haider Usman Advocate, Shakir Hussain Shakir, and a large number of distinguished citizens, poets, writers, journalists and people from various walks of life.
Recalling his long association with PTV, Gilani said that the golden-era dramas of Pakistan Television were widely admired not only across Pakistan but also in India and other countries. He shared that prisoners in jails eagerly waited for PTV dramas, which served as a source of hope and encouragement for them. This sentiment, he added, motivated him during his tenure as Prime Minister to establish the PTV Centre in Multan.
The Chairman Senate said that the establishment of PTV Multan marked a milestone in the promotion of the region’s civilization, the Saraiki language, music and literary heritage. The people of this region, he noted, possess a unique cultural identity, and therefore it was essential to create a dedicated television centre to represent them, provide opportunities for emerging artists, poets, musicians and writers, and promote their contributions nationally.
He further said that the inauguration of PTV Multan Centre in 2011 was part of a broader vision to provide a national platform for regional music, literature, poetry, intellectual discourse and cultural activities. Extending felicitations to the nation, particularly the people of Multan and South Punjab, Gilani expressed hope that the institution would continue to uphold its legacy and move forward with excellence.
Referring to his recent visit to Azerbaijan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that during his meeting with the President, he was told that the 700-year-old “Multan Caravanserai” remains preserved as a symbol of historical heritage. The President remarked that the name has been retained because of Gilani’s own connection with Multan. Highlighting Multan’s 5,000-year-old history, Gilani proposed that historically significant cities around the world be declared “sister cities” to strengthen cultural diplomacy.
Chairman Senate emphasized that institutions like PTV play a pivotal role in shaping national narrative, cultural identity and soft power. Therefore, it is imperative to take all necessary measures for their development and progress.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
