Khyber Pakhtunkhwa TV channel to go on air in four months

A departmental performance review meeting held here on Friday with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Culture, Transport and Inter-Provincial Co-ordination (IPC) Mian Iftikhar Hussein in the chair was told that approval for the establishment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa television channel has been given and will go on air in next four months. The meeting was attended by Secretary Information, Public Relations and Culture Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Secretary Transport Sikandar Qayyum and Secretary IPC Mushtaq Jadoon. The secretaries presented the performance of their respective departments and briefed about their future strategies. In his performance report, Secretary Information Azmat Hanif Orakzai told the meeting that radio channels had already started working in Peshawar and Mardan and it will start work in remaining district in phases. He said that for combating the ongoing terrorism and militancy they were paying proper attention to media in general and electronic media in particular, for this purpose besides establishing FM Radio in each district of KPK, television channel would also be established, he added. The Secretary Culture, besides unveiling annual calendar of activities in the sector, gave a detailed briefing on Traditional Hunarmand Scheme and other projects. The Secretary Transport said that in light of the recent visit of the minister to Turkey and Argentine and meetings with the ambassadors, a detailed summary for improvement in the transport of the province had been prepared. He said the summary would be sent to Chief Minister for approval. He further said that the transport had become a serious problem in the provincial metropolis and for bringing improvement the government had decided to consult both local and foreign experts for preparing future strategy. The Secretary Inter-Provincial Co-ordination said that under 18th constitutional amendment the process of devolution to province was near completion, but, certain departments were still facing difficulties in the transfer of their assets. He said the provincial government had completed homework for raising the issue in the next meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI). He also apprised the minister regarding reservations on the re-establishment of some departments at federal level. In his brief remarks, Provincial Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussein appreciated the efforts of the department of information for the elimination of terrorism and militancy and directed to complete both schemes of KPK TV and FM radio channels as soon as possible. He also termed culture as a most effective weapon against terrorism and directed to hold maximum positive cultural activities in the province. The provincial minister also directed preparation of maximum practical and useful plans in transport sector and urged to complete necessary file work in this regard and present them for approval to start work with immediate effect. Talking about 18th constitutional amendment, the minister said it was positive endeavour of all political parties for greater national interest and was aimed at strengthening of federating units and removal of longstanding sense of deprivation. He said that any decision sans taking province into confidence was against the spirit of 18th constitutional amendment and interest of the country. Therefore, he said that before taking any decision relating to the amendment, all federating units should be taken into confidence to obtain the desire results of the 18th constitutional amendment.