Staff Correspondent
PESHAWAR: Deputy Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Suriya Bibi has said that the establishment of Pakhtunkhwa Radio in Upper Chitral will play a vital role in providing timely information, awareness and entertainment programmes to the local population.
Chairing a review meeting with officials of the Information and Public Relations Department at the Deputy Speaker’s Chamber on Wednesday, she directed the department to swiftly complete all necessary procedures — including the setting up of a transmission tower and studio — and move the project into its implementation phase, so that the people of Upper Chitral could benefit from this important facility at the earliest.
Those present included Director General Information and Public Relations Ansar Khilji, Deputy Directors Nizamuddin and Zar Wali and Senior Planning Officer Hizbulla.
Briefing the meeting on the project’s progress, Mr Khilji said a technical team from the department had visited Upper Chitral and completed a detailed technical survey of various government sites and buildings, assessing requirements for the radio studio, transmission tower, availability of electricity, accessibility and other technical needs.
He said a suitable site for the FM radio station had already been selected in Booni, the headquarters of Upper Chitral, and that relevant sections had been directed to expedite the project’s subsequent phases.
He further informed the meeting that a limited amount of funds was available under the project, while a summary seeking additional funds had been moved to the concerned quarters.
He noted that the transmitters for the radio station were to be imported, which would take some time, and that renovation, tendering for hiring, and procurement would also require time but assured the Deputy Speaker that the department would leave no stone unturned to complete the project in the shortest possible time.
Suriya Bibi appreciated the department’s efforts and expressed hope that the process would be expedited. She said that in a remote and geographically difficult area like Upper Chitral, FM radio would prove to be an effective means of public communication.
Besides delivering timely information on natural disasters, floods, weather, health, education and other public matters, the platform would help highlight the local language, culture, traditions and talent of the region, give voice to local issues and public concerns, and create new educational, informative and creative opportunities for the youth.
She observed that while nature has blessed Chitral with immense beauty, its people still have a long way to go to be at par with the rest of the country, describing Upper Chitral as among the most backward districts, where residents have very limited access to basic amenities.
“This radio station is very crucial for the area and the masses, and I want this project completed as soon as possible,” she said.
Suriya Bibi added that ending the underdevelopment of Upper Chitral and providing modern communication and public facilities remain among her top priorities, and that the establishment of the FM radio station is an important step in that direction.
She vowed to bring more and more development schemes for the uplift of Upper Chitral, an area she said has long been neglected.