And Pakistan Is Born, 14 August 1947

The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, popularly called Radio Pakistan came into being as Pakistan Broadcasting Service on 14 August 1947 when Pakistan emerged on the world map as a new country.

The independence of Pakistan was announced through Radio Pakistan on Aug 13, 1947 at 11:59 pm in Urdu, followed by a similar announcement in English, Pushto and other languages. The Pakistani radio presenter Mustafa Ali Hamdani (1909–1980) made the Urdu announcement in the following words:

The English translation of this announcement is as follows:

Greetings!

Pakistan Broadcasting Service. We are speaking from Lahore. The night between the thirteen and fourteen of August, year forty-seven. It is twelve o’clock. Dawn of Freedom.

Once again, as the midnight strikes, lets unite and work hard…