Khyber Palhtunkhwa to launch Pashto TV channel

[Talal]

Peshawar (PPI): The Provincial government will soon to established its own satellite channel for which the government has already invited applications from various firms to conduct feasibility study of the project so it will be started within short possible time. The government has also discussed the implementation of the project with US Aid and other donor agencies, who assured to fund the project under the strategic communication development policy. Initially, the provincial government has planned to start informative, educative and entertainment programs in Pashto and other regional languages besides portraying the government success in various fields. The meager financial resources of the province however has been the main hurdle in implementation and early completion of the project but still government is seriously working on it therefore the TV project has been made part of the ADP 2010 and some funds have been allocated to bear the initial cast of the project. With abolishment of the concurrent list after the passage of 18th amendment, the provincial government of ANP is now seriously working to start the Pashto TV Channel to counter the anti- propaganda beside develops the regional languages. Besides starting TV channel, the government has planned to establish 10 more FM radio Channels in various districts of province so it will help to bring social change in the society and plug the holes which the extremist could exploit through propagation of their agenda on illegal FM Channels. World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) and Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) had also offered the provincial government to provide technical assistance to various communities in flood hit areas for establishment of Community Radio System in the flood affected parts of the province which will play vital role in rehabilitation and re-construction process. During their meeting with minister information Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Mian Iftikhar Hussain representatives of AMARC Mr. Steve Buckley, Imam Parkas, Junichie Hibino, Tooru Satou along with editor PPI and PPF Nasir Ijaz discussed the possibility of establishing community radios in flood affected parts of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa while welcoming the idea of community radio system assured AMARC and PPF that government will facilitate the establishment of the radios incase PEMRA has permitted these stations in Pakistan. Minister Information Mian Iftikhar told the delegates of AMARC and PPF that provincial government wants to develop the communication network in form of radio FM channels and local TV but keeping in view the existing situation of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, step for establishment a radio controlled by the community will needs extreme care. The delegation also discussed the possibility of community radio system with secretary information Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Hanif Aurakzai who informed the delegates that provincial government has planned to start satellite TV channel besides establishing FM radio channels at different districts of the province. Representatives of AMMARC and PPF also met with Regional Manager PEMRA Nasir Ayub and briefed him about the success of community radio in post disasters period in Chilly, Haiti and in Indonesia after Tsunami. Regional chief of PEMRA informed that the authority has been succeeded to seize 200 illegal FM radio channels in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and working to facilitate the non-commercial radios in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. For the purpose campus radio channels in Peshawar and Gomal university D.I Khan have been licensed besides KP government has also been allowed to set up a FM channel with the name of Pukhtunkhwa radio for the IDPs of Malakand, but owing to the successful operation of Pukhtunkhwa radio, the period of its license has recently been extended for 6 months.

[Talal]

This is actually a huge development..I mean think about why it can do for the Pashtuns in pakitan, they will have a platform to promote their culture, language and most important of all now they can bring forth and highlight social and economic problems

I'm really happy at this

[tor_khan]

Sounds like a positive development. The only "caution" is editorial politics.

The existing channel AVT Khyber is seen as very pro-establishment, even though it is a private enterprise (owned, by a non-Pashtoon incidentally).

Things that seem small, in fact, speak volumes about the politics of the country. Such as Eid transmissions. Pashtunkhwa typically 'celebrates' Eid out of sync with the rest of Pakistan and this means that AVT doesn't quite know which way to swing on this. That's just a small example, but there are many others, such as actually being able to discuss the Bacha Khan agenda or the Achakzai agenda quite openly on TV. Also notice the absence of classical Pashto-speaking artists who typically sing about Pashtunistan or Loy Afghanistan. This has to be filtered out by AVT and thus the heavy weights of our culture rarely make it onto TV. The 'seat' of AVT is Islamabad and this is therefore outside the natural homelands for Pashtoons. This act of NOT being in Pashtunkhwa is signficant.

AVT did, however, create a focal point and that at least was a good thing. Shamshad TV which relays from Afghanistan (also has a bureau in Pashtunkhwa) is now gain foothold and clearly they have a much more Pashtoon-centric editorial.

You can never have a completely bias-free media and for Pashtoons, right now, satellite TV and not broadband internet access is the most powerful medium.

[tor_khan]

It depends on by who its owned and what's aired.

AVT Khyber is owned by a Punjabi and its a Pashto channel all they air are programs to brainwash Pashtuns into thinking Pakistan loves them.

Basically sums up my opinion of the channel. BTW - I was at a show yesterday in Dubai organised by Khyber. So you'll probably see me clapping away on TV.

[Shehbaz Khan]

AVT is good to some extent but as said not much open and they can't discuss everything freely .. But the thing I love about it that it has given a chance to the Pakhtuns who got the talent and we need to appreciate that ..

If that TV channel is supposed to be controlled by the KPK govt itself it's of no good than, we don't need it than !!

So according to me the Pakhtun business men needs to come forward and launch a TV channel which should be free from any kind of pressure by anyone whether the state or a particular school of thought

[Baygham]

some friends tried to launch a pashto channel, before avt khyber, the establishment made sure it did not go through without tight control and forwarded the avt khyber themselves. Just sharing the frustrations here.

[Shehbaz Khan]

that's is what I said my dear we need to have a channel which should not be pressurized by any school of thought !! Whether the govt, the country (Neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan) !!

Which should be free to report each and everything ..

[Talal]

I like geo maybe they should launch regional channels

[Shehbaz Khan]

Talal I've to agree with you, they need to launch regional channels and promote regional culture !!

[Toramana]

Talal I've to agree with you, they need to launch regional channels and promote regional culture !!

Yes, launch a TV channel so to shove more Pak-ism down your throat. You may have the stomach to digest that garbage but we don't want a Ranjit Singhi propaganda organ.

[Talal]

i think they should be able to do it pretty easily without raking up major infrastructural changes

I mean they can start with lets say running regional programs on their regular channel but the broadcast would be different depending on which province they're running it in..They could do it even city wide

Geo Pakhtunkhwa Geo balochistan

I like the sound of that

[Shehbaz Khan]

Yes, launch a TV channel so to shove more Pak-ism down your throat. You may have the stomach to digest that garbage but we don't want a Ranjit Singhi propaganda organ.

Who asked you to watch it, you are the judge sitting on your sofa having the remote just switch off the channel you don't want to see!!

[Master Khan]

Wow this will great..I don't have to wait like a week just to watch a Pashto drama on PTV .
Hope its in the UK aswell....there are no pashto channels in UK

[Toramana]

Who asked you to watch it, you are the judge sitting on your sofa having the remote just switch off the channel you don't want to see!!

Alternatively, you can have it at your home if you are desperate to be a member of Ranjit Singhi fraternity. We don't want the minds of Pashtuns to be polluted with that nonsense propaganda.

[Shehbaz Khan]

Hehe Toramana Manana

Which nonsense propaganda are you talking about?
Why are you against those Pakhtuns of Pakistan who love their country ?