TV broadcasts resume in Bajaur after four years

KHAR, April 25: The PTV restarted airing programmes in restive Bajaur tribal region on Monday after reconstruction of the booster, which was destroyed by militants about four years ago. With the repair of the booster, thousands of viewers in Bajaur and bordering areas of Malakand and Dir Lower will watch the transmissions of PTV Home and PTV News. Militants in tribal region occupied the booster building on the hilltop in Barang area, some 25 kilometres from agency headquarters Khar, and later blew it up in 2007. The machinery and other equipment of the booster as well as rooms of the building were destroyed, depriving thousands of viewers of watching PTV broadcasts for the last four years. Apart from the TV booster, militants also destroyed dozens of educational institutions and health centres in the region. The destruction and years' long closure of schools and colleges deprived thousands of children of education. The music and CD centres were closed, radio and cassette players were removed from vehicles, TV sets were brought out of the houses and broken and barbers were asked by militants not to shave beards in the tribal region during the past few years. However, security forces launched operation in 2008 and after prolonged gun-battle they succeeded in restoring government's writ in most of the militant-infested areas. The government has also launched developmental activities in parts of the region. The completion of repair work on PTV booster and other uplift schemes encouraged tribal people. "Normalcy is returning to the violence-ravaged region. The reconstruction of the TV booster was completed in a short span of four months by security forces," said residents of the area. An overjoyed TV viewer, Ahmed Hassan of Pattak area said after restoration of PTV broadcasts that they would be able to see sports, music and other entertainment programs.