Syed Abid Rizvi

Syed Abid Rizvi is one of Pakistan’s veteran and most respected broadcasters.  Completing his formal education with a MA in Urdu Literature from the University of Balochistan in 1962, he joined Radio Pakistan as a Producer in 1965.  He served in both Quetta and in the Turbat stations of the broadcasting network while becoming Senior Producer, Programme Manager and Station Director, Quetta.  He retired in 1998 but because of his experience and knowledge were direly-needed; he was invited to serve as Advisor on Programmes at Radio Pakistan, Quetta from 1998 to 2005.

International recognition of his pioneering work in Radio broadcasting came in the form of the First Prize for the Best Radio Programme on “Rural education” in 1995 presented to him by UNICEF in Pakistan.  He also won the First Prize earlier in 1981 awarded by the Asian Broadcasting Union for his programme titled: “The mountain and the child” in the ABU International Radio Programme Competition. 

He has served as a Master Trainer in broadcasting workshops organized by IUCN and has also made an active contribution to over 200 workshops, training processes and seminars on community development, education, culture, “educasting” and community radio and to development in general.

Highly-respected in the literary and cultural circles in Balochistan, Syed Abid Rizvi served as Honorary Secretary of the prestigious literary organization known as: “Qalam Qabeela” in Quetta for many years during which he organized several major conferences on literature and culture.

He is the author of two books in Urdu titled: “Gul Zamen”, a critical appreciation of Pushto, Balochi and Brahvi poetry of Balochistan and of: “Mumta hi Mumta”.

On a voluntary basis, he has made an exceptionally purposeful contribution to the development sector.  He has served as Chairman of the Taraqqi Foundation which works at the grass-roots level in Balochistan and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and is also Advisor to the Foundation since 2005.

Earlier in 1994, he was invited to become a Member of the general body of SPO (Strengthening Participatory Organization) which is Pakistan’s leading capacity-building and advocacy NGO.  As an elected Member of the Board of Directors and as Vice Chairman, SPO, he has helped steer the body to implement a large number of beneficial development programmes and projects.

He is also Chairperson of Water, Environment & Sanitation Society (WESS), Quetta; former Member, Board of Directors, Human Resource Development Network; Member, Board of Directors, Lok Sangat, Islamabad and has served as Focal Person from Balochistan for the initiative known as “Pani Pakistan”.

Having travelled worldwide in his professional capacity as Representative of Radio Pakistan in tours of Holland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, he has also participated in a training assignment with BBC London in 1976 in the field of radio production.

Frequently invited to present papers and observations at international conferences, Syed Abid Rizvi has attended the media and communication seminars by the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), Singapore held in Thailand on challenges and responses by media to the problem of poverty in Asia.  He has attended the International Workshop on Community Radio held in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2002, the International Trainers’ Retreat in Dubai in 2003, the AMARC World Assembly also in Nepal in 2003, the AMARC Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2005, the AMARC World Assembly in Amman, Jordan in 2006, the International Trainers’ Retreat in Dubai in 2007, and the Seminar on “Equity and Equality” held in Cairo, Egypt in April 2008.