BAHAWALPUR - The recipients of the Outstanding Category for the artistes of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation have expressed their gratitude over receiving the highest category for the artistes of the Radio Pakistan in recognition of their remarkable performance in the field of singing and music. Renowned folk singers Jamil Parwana and Naseer Mastana, musicians Malang Hussain and Mureed Hussain termed it a big honour for them, saying it was due to the blessings of Allah Almighty, affection and love of public and PBC officials besides their working hard and sincerity to their profession. In an interview aired by Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpur, they said that they have been serving Radio Pakistan since long but it was the first time that the high-ups of the PBC had awarded the highest category to the artistes of a remote and neglected area. Otherwise, they said, in the past, the artistes of major stations were awarded such distinctions. It is worth mentioning that PBC Director General Ghulam Murtaza Solangi during his visit to Bahawalpur two weeks ago watched their performance at a cultural show at Islamia University of Bahawalpur and was highly impressed by the remarkable performance of both the singers and the musicians. Both the singers are real brothers who first of all appeared for Radio Audition at Radio Pakistan, Lahore where they were advised to sing jointly instead of individually and then they started singing jointly. Their singing style started receiving public appreciation. Their songs in a simple way directly touched the public hearts and minds. Resultantly, the Lok Versa Director Aksi Mufti invited them to perform at functions at Islamabad and encouraged them a lot. Later, they brothers started performing at Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpur with its opening on August18, 1975 and till now performing there regularly. They said that they had the distinction to perform in the shows attended by all the prime ministers of Pakistan since Zulfikar Ali Bhutto which was a great honour for them. They have sung around 1,000 songs. Trumpeter Malang Hussain disclosed on the occasion that he was in this field for the last 35 years and had been serving Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpur for the last one decade. He believed that commitment with the work ultimately brings success and this was a big achievement for him and it would further improve his skill and enthusiasm. Drummer Mureed Hussain said that he was in the field for the last 40 years and attached with the Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpur for the last 15 years and he got training of music in his childhood which developed his potential. Moreover, Station Director Sajid Hassan Durrani said the PBCs Outstanding Category for the radio artistes was the basic step for their consideration, selection and nomination for the national awards so it was a matter of great pleasure for us that the Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpurs artistes had been awarded their due right.