Pakistani Archdiocese launches TV channel

(March 27, 2010) In Pakistan, the Archdiocese of Karachi launched the Good News satellite TV channel with a marathon transmission this week. The channel - a first for the archdiocese - has been on the air since Christmas but on Tuesday began its regular transmission, as the nation celebrated Pakistan Day. Church officials and local celebrities, politicians and media personalities were on hand for a celebratory event. Archbishop Evarist Pinto of Karachi congratulated the team and affirmed that the Church cannot ignore the media. He said the Church has served the nation through its institutes, and has proved that it serves with a difference, total dedication, love and sincerity. “Through this new venture we wish to do the same. We want to bring about love, harmony and brotherhood,” Archbishop Pinto said. He said that the Good News of Jesus that they have is for everyone and they want to spread that so that people will learn to live in harmony. Pakistan is almost entirely Muslim, with Christians, Hindus and other minorities making up only 5% of the population. There are about 151,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese of Karachi.