Pakistan completes 78 years of independence, a moment that calls for reflection on its history and progress. Throughout the years, Pakistan has experienced a significant evolution, be it the iconic vehicles or the means of communication in the country.
From handwritten notes, clicking typewriters to smooth touch screen experiences, there has been a visible shift in means of communication. In this blog, let’s take a journey from the past to the present to witness the history and evolution of communication in Pakistan since 1947.
Era of Traditional Communication
These are some of the traditional ways people once relied on to stay connected:
Telegram Ayaa Hai!
When talking of traditional means of communications, letters and typewriters have an important role to play. People used letters for communication for both public and private use. To bring accuracy and a more patterned way of writing and communication, typewriters were used. They were more than just a writing instrument; their click-clack created a rhythmic history in Pakistan’s important affairs.
People used to go to telegram offices, meet the clerk, and give them their messages by keeping them short. The message was written in a transmitter, converting text into a code, which would travel through telegraph lines to the desired city or place. This code was then decoded, printed, and brought by the telegram delivery boy. This method served as a quick alternative to sending written letters via train. Since it was only used for the important news, such as birth, death, etc, people’s hearts would race upon hearing ‘Telegram aya hai!’
The telegrams did not come cheaply and were charged per word. However, it was completely discontinued in 2006.
Yeh Radio Pakistan hai
Remember the stories our grandparents told us about the announcement on the radio?
‘Yeh All India Lahore hai ap hamare aglay ailaan ka intezaar kijiye’
Minutes later, another announcement was made by Mustafa Hamdani
‘Yeh Radio Pakistan hai, ap ko Pakistan Mubarik ho’
It was the sound of freedom echoing into every home, every heart, and every corner of the new Pakistan.
At the time of independence, there were three radio stations: Dhaka, Lahore, and Peshawar. Back then, it was regarded as the Pakistan Broadcasting Service, and later in 1972, it was renamed the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). The PBC Act of 1973 claimed to play an important role in educating, entertaining, promoting Pakistan’s culture and Islamic values, and encouraging national unity in the country.
Just like this radio played an important role in becoming a medium of communication in Pakistan.
Televisions – A New Storyteller
Television was a rare luxury because only a few could afford it. Whenever an important news, show, or film was supposed to be telecast, people would gather in the one lucky home that had a television.
In 1963, Pakistan’s television services began, and introduced Pakistan Television Corporation PTV with black and white transmissions. It broadcast cultural and educational programs and dramas, only for a few hours a day, but gained people’s attention.
For instance, people would wait the whole day to just watch the popular PTV shows such as ‘Kashkol’ and ‘Dhoondte Reh Jaoge’. However, such shows highlighted the cultural importance of the nation.
Besides this entertainment purpose, the political discourse reached people via TV, and later gave rise to the private TV channels. Not just this, the digital revolution introduced channels that operated 24 hours. Now Pakistan has different channels for different interests, such as dramas, news, films, etc.
Landline Telephones
In the 1960s and 70s, people were greatly dependent on the ‘cash-operated phone booths’ as not everybody could afford telephones at home. Therefore, calling your loved ones whenever you want was a luxury for people. But the era of phone booths ended with highlighting issues such as failed connections for international calls. With this came the rise of public call offices (PCOs), pagers, and calling cards in the 80s to early 90s.
Just like this, Pakistan kept on experiencing a technological shift impacting the means of communication in the country.
The Modern Revolution
Over the years, Pakistan has progressed with major technological advancements, which have led to the modern communication revolution. Have a look:
Computers – an Exposure To the Digital World
Discussion of the modern revolution is incomplete without mentioning how computers evolved with time. The computer machines, as big as the size of a room, were shrunk to smaller-sized machines. Just like when phone calls were made, convenient PCOs were constructed; similarly, the rise of computers gave birth to internet cafes where people could use them. From gaming to performing different tasks, computers were always considered a source of luxury. Besides this, people were exposed to the digital world and were able to stay connected with their loved ones via email and other platforms. Thus, people stepped into the global information and online research.
Mobile Phones
After letters, telegrams, and landlines, Pakistan experienced the entry of mobile phones. This made calling and staying in touch with people more accessible and convenient, hence it became the new normal for people. Besides this, people started opting for the SMS culture, allowing people to stay connected with all those ‘Subah Bakhair’ and ‘Shab Bakhair’ texts.
But one thing that played a great role was the shift from button phones to the touchscreen with the advent of 3G and 4G.
Touchscreen Smartphones
The touchscreen smartphones made their entry in Pakistan in the early 2000s, making the digital world more accessible. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 with a slide-out keyboard was among the first touchscreen smartphones to arrive in Pakistan.
With the increasing demand for touchscreen smartphones, it further gave rise to different platforms such as Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp, and video calls were made more accessible. Now, where people had to rush to internet cafes for emails, more could easily do so with the help of one small device in their hands.
But in recent times, we are all well aware of how technologically advanced smartphones have become, with stylish flips and foldable designs; they are a real treat to look at. That’s not all! We were still headed towards the groundbreaking innovations where means of communication are becoming stronger.
Future of Communication
As the world is moving towards artificial intelligence, future communication will become much more powerful.
AI-Powered Tools
Imagine Artificial intelligence creating an easier way for us to communicate and allowing chatbots to quickly solve our queries. Aren’t we experiencing it already in recent times?
AI Incorporation in Smartphones
Artificial intelligence incorporated in smartphones has made them more intuitive and helpful for people, and it will continue to do so in the future. However, AI in phones has given rise to further advanced features such as camera enhancements, more editing capabilities, health monitoring, language understanding, and more.
Not just this, but you can even talk to AI. You might have heard of Gemini, right? This can be found in most flagship phones with full capabilities, opening the door to the advanced AI features. You can talk to Gemini, ask for help, get suggestions, get live translation, and much more.
Metaverse
Just like other innovations, the metaverse is making its way, offering a 3D experience to people. But are we ready for this experience where there is a thin line between the real and digital realm?
Final Verdict
The evolution of communication is a journey to experience by going deep into the history of the country. The clicking of typewriters, waiting for the ‘telegram ayaa hai’ voice, to watching shows on TV, everything in history has its role to play. But the modern revolution of communication has indeed made people’s lives easier.
On this Independence Day, reflect on the old times, pause, and be thankful for where we stand now. Imagine how we would have communicated and shared our sad or joyous moments with our loved ones. With every passing year of freedom, Pakistan has made its communication routes stronger and will continue to do so.
Happy 79th Independence Day from OLX Pakistan.
Leave a Reply