BBC Uzbek comes to Saraish Radio in Afghanistan

BBC World Service has extended the availability of its Uzbek-language radio programming in north-western Afghanistan.

 

Thanks to a new co-operation with Saraish Radio 91.1 FM, which reaches audiences in the Jowzjan and Sar-e Pol provinces with large ethnic Uzbek population, the station now broadcasts BBC Uzbek service's hour-long radio programming every day at 17.30-18.30 local time.

 

Saraish Radio 91.1 FM is a private station which sees women as its main target audience and covers sensitive issues such as women's education and role in society. It broadcasts news and current affairs, youth and educational programmes, talk shows, short dramas and sport. Uzbek is widely spoken in the area covered by Saraish Radio.

 

Saraish Radio Founder and President, Farida Rahim Azizi, comments: "Everyone at Radio Saraish is excited about our cooperation with the BBC. Thanks to this new arrangement, BBC radio will reach Uzbek-speakers in our region, bringing them unbiased, objective news and information. This is an excellent development for Saraish Radio and our listeners."

 

Since it launched 20 years ago, BBC Uzbek service has built a strong reputation for impartial news, reporting to a region where unbiased news is hard to come by. Editor of Central Asia Hub, BBC World Service, Hamid Ismailov, says: "International news and current-affairs content is not readily available in this area of Afghanistan. We are delighted that, thanks to this new link with Saraish Radio, BBC Uzbek radio programming will reach a large audience of Uzbek-speakers, especially women in rural areas, bringing them news and analysis from the wider region and the rest of the world, in their own language."

 

BBC Uzbek is part of BBC World Service.

 

(BBC Press Release)