KARACHI: BBC said on Thursday it will expand shortwave radio news coverage in Kashmir to ease the impact of a communications blackout imposed by the Indian government.
BBC proclaimed this after Modi stripped the IoK of its special status by revoking article 370 of the Indian Constitution pm 5th day of August, 2019. Since then curfew has been imposed on the populace of the region by GoI.
According to details the frequency and the duration of the program will augment in a variety of languages spoken in IoK. Commenting on the expansion BBC World Service Director Jamie Angus stated: “Given the shutdown of digital services and phone lines in the region, it’s right for us to try and increase the provision of news on our short wave radio services…The provision of independent and trusted news in places of conflict and tension is one of the core purposes of the World Service.”
It has further been learnt that BBC’s News Hindi radio output will be extended by 30 minutes from today (16th day of August, 2019). News Urdu (the official language of Pakistan spoken by Muslims who comprise the majority in occupied Kashmir) will launch a 15-minute daily program on Monday (19th of August, 2019).
BBC’s English morning broadcasts will end an hour later than usual. The evening English-language news will start an hour earlier and end at their usual time. It is pertinent to mention here that India is now its radio service’s largest market – picked up by 50 million people a week.
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PS: Short wave transmissions travel thousands of kms and are able to bounce over mountains that dominate the region.
