also known as Voice of Pakistan, is a Pakistani public service broadcaster. It was started as Radio Pakistan but on December 20‚ 1972 it was changed to a statutory body governed by the Board of Directors and the Director General. Radio services include Radio Pakistan and television operations (Pakistan Television Corporation) include PTV Bolan, PTV Global, PTV Home, PTV National, PTV News, PTV Sports and PTV World. The PBC also operates television services for Azad Jammu & Kashmir under AJK TV. Radio and television are broadcast through satellite, cable, FM, AM, and shortwave radio frequencies. See also Pakistan Television Corporation. Select programming is also available through WRN. Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television offers programming in Urdu and English on its national radio and television broadcasts, while offering programming in 23 different regional languages on its domestic radio service and channels. Its external services are broadcast eight hours daily in 10 different foreign languages, covering the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, the Far East Asia and parts of Eastern Europe. PBC employs commercial advertising to supplement its federal funding on its television broadcasts. The radio service employed commercials from its inception. Mandate The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1973. was enacted... ...to provide for the establishment of a broadcasting corporation, to ensure effective operation and growth of broadcasting as a function-oriented public service medium, general improvement in the quality of programmes, speedy, implementation of projects and better utilisation of talent, and for matters connected therewith; The functions of the corporation as outlined in the act are: to be made available throughout Pakistan for the purposes of disseminating information, education and entertainment, to reflect Pakistan and its regions to national and regional audiences, to actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression and Islamic Ideology, to be in all languages, reflecting the different needs and circumstances of each official language community, to strive for national unity, principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice. Management In accordance with the act, a board of directors is responsible for the management of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation; the general management is in the hands of a director general, who is appointed by the Government of Pakistan. In total, the board is made up of 12 members, including the director general. Secretary Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage One eminent media personality from each province appointed by the Government of Pakistan (4).