The government is keen on spending Rs. 100 million on five radio channels in the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to a media report, the provincial government of KPK is ready to spend Rs. 100 million to launch five FM radio stations in Bajaur, Mohmand, Kurram, North and South Waziristan tribal districts.

“These FM radio channels will be operational within two months as accelerated efforts are underway to establish the radio stations,” said Mukhtiar Ahmed, the secretary of information and public relations department.

Furthermore, he said that the government’s narrative will be disseminated to the people, who had so far been relying on foreign media.

He added that currently, only two FM radio stations are working in Khyber and Miramshah, however, the duration of their transmissions is limited to two or three hours a day.

The merged districts used to have four radio stations; one each in Khyber, Miramshah, Razmak and WANA, according to the PC-1 for the establishment of the radio stations. The radio station in Wana was blown up by militants in 2006 whereas the remaining three were closed down in May 2013 owing to shortage of funds.

According to documents, the militant groups in FATA used the illegally set up FM radio stations as highly effective propaganda tools.

“Besides, radio stations located in Afghanistan near the border region are engaged in dissemination of negative propaganda against state institutions and they are trying to develop a hateful narrative,” state the documents.

These new planned radio stations will not only become the source of entertainment and information but will also highlight the efforts of the government. The radio stations will also provide a platform to the government authorities to air and share their opinion, views and grievances.

Programs will be aired in various local dialects to promote the ideology of de-radicalization and offer a counter-narrative to the anti-state elements, say the documents.

Govt to Spend Rs. 100 Billion on Tribal Districts

Prime Minister Imran Khan has also said that a three-week consultative process on a ten-year development plan is being initiated for former FATA.

In a tweet today, he said the process is being started from Bajaur.

Living up to our commitment. A 3-week consultative process on 10 yr Dev Plan for former FATA is being initiated, starting from Bajaur. Our ppl in the tribal area will see unprecedented development as Govt plans to spend over Rs100 billion annually for 10 yrs in tribal districts — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2019

The Prime Minister said that the tribal people will see unprecedented development as the government plans to spend over one hundred billion rupees annually for ten years in tribal districts.