Federal Minster for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday inaugurated Bannu radio station and announced that 50 more stations would be set up in the country to bring remote areas under the network. The radio could be heard on FM-102 MHZ and it will cover 70 km radius area and benefit the population of Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat districts and some parts of Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, North and South Waziristan Agencies.
The ceremony was attended by Provincial Minster for Information Asif Iqbal Daudzai, MNA Maulana Nasib Ali Shah, senator Qari Abdullah, Advisor to Chief Minster NWFP Azam Khan Durrani, Director General PBC Tarique Imam, DCO Bannu Shah Wali Khan Ourakzai and other high officials.
In a message, broadcast live from the radio station, Sheikh Rashid said that it was the government's policy that 70 percent programmes are broadcast in regional language.
He said the radio station would certainly contribute towards the development of the district.
He informed that more radio stations would be established in the country to disseminate information to the maximum population. He hoped the radio stations would promote, cultural and literary activities, it would also provide a platform to the local people to highlight their viewpoint.
The minister directed the PBC staff to broadcast informative programmes on health, education, agriculture, forests development and issues of public interest.
Later the messages of Provincial Minister, Asif, Iqbal Daudzai and MNA Nasib Ali Shah were also broadcast who thanked the federal government for establishing the radio station.
Talking to office hearers of Bannu Press Club, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed invited the private sector from rural areas of the Frontier Province to establish FM radio stations as 80 more stations would be set up. He said interested parties from remote areas would be given permission to set up FM channels at one-fourth rate.
It is an era of competition, he said and added, the media was progressing at fast pace. He said the media channels were also playing great role in promoting the regional languages all over the country and added that some people were also trying to learn these languages.
The minister said he was trying to learn Pashto language.
He also announced Rs 200,000 for Bannu Press Club for purchase of furniture, fax machine, computers etc. The delegation of press club Bannu was led by its President Ajmal Qamar.