Sindh Rangers vacate historic Radio Pakistan building after eight years

KARACHI: The Anti-Terrorist Wing of Sindh Rangers has quietly vacated the iconic Radio Pakistan building on M.A. Jinnah Road after an occupancy spanning nearly eight years.

The departure, which occurred around the second week of January, marks the end of an era for the limestone structure adorned with minarets, which had become a temporary home to the security forces.

The premises, adorned with a majestic banyan tree that provided shade to the historic building, now stand empty, with the wooden hummingbird cages and clay nesting pots lying vacant.

Doors to the main building are sealed with white slips bearing the date ’18-01-2024′ and the stamp of ‘PBC Project Cell (South Zone)’, indicating the departure of the Rangers.

Confirming the move, a spokesperson for the Sindh Rangers expressed frustration at media scrutiny, stating, “All this while the media has been pointing fingers at us, calling us squatters. And now that we have left the building, you also have an issue with that?” The spokesperson clarified that the occupation was a temporary arrangement facilitated by the Government of Sindh, and the Rangers have since relocated to a new facility near the Toll Plaza in Gadap.

Reflecting on the departure, a senior Radio Pakistan employee remarked on the unsuitability of the location for the Rangers, citing their preference for open cantonment areas over urban environments. Despite the cohabitation, the Rangers did not disrupt Radio Pakistan’s operations, including the management of the project cell and the publication of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation’s monthly Urdu magazine, Ahang.

With the Rangers’ exit, plans are underway to gradually restore Radio Pakistan’s operations to the historic building, starting with sales, marketing, and news sections.

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The building, inaugurated on July 16, 1951, holds significant historical importance, serving as the hub for Karachi station’s medium wave transmissions since soon after Partition under the guidance of prominent figures like Z.A. Bukhari and Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi.