New AM radio goes on air in Paktika

SHARAN (Pajhwok): A new radio channel launched test transmissions on Sunday for the first time on Amplitude Modulation (AM) in southeastern Paktika province.

The radio “Talwasa” based in Sharan, the provincial capital, could be heard in neighbouring Paktia, Ghazni, Logar and across the Durand Line on 945 kHz medium waves.

Haji Naeem Faisal, the radio’s director and owner, said they had invested around $520,000 on the project.  He said Talwasa was an independent radio channel and had no affiliation with any local, international, political or non-political organization.

The radio is established with support from the Emerge Media Training Communication, a non-profit local organization. Faisal said the new radio would abide by government’s rules and regulations.

He said the radio would cover areas where FM transmissions did not reach.  The four hours test transmissions could be expended to 20 hours with increase in financial resources, he said.

The radio has 23 staff members, nine of them journalists, and the remaining are technical staff.

Qalandar Malang, who heads the Paktika youth unity union, said the radio’s launch was an achievement and extended complete support to it on behalf of his union.

He said the channel could help people convey their problems to the authorities concerned and make their voices heard.

shah/ma

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