To counter the propaganda of militants/terrorists and create awareness among people against militancy, the provincial government of NWFP would launch FM radio stations in the province, especially in Malakand and other restive areas. This measure is part of the government’s anti-terror strategy – changing people’s mindset and making them informed against the horrors of militancy in order to cope with the latter effectively.

In a briefing to journalists, at the Civil Officers Mess in Peshawar on Saturday (June 13, 2009), provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told about the government’s plan to allocate funds for setting up anti-militancy radio stations and enhancing the performance and presentation of media channels as well as refining the syllabi of educational institutions. He also underscored the role of peace-loving religious scholars, like Mufti Naeemi and Maulana Hassan Jan, in countering extremisms.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain also mentioned the hope that the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) would soon be able to return to their homes in Swat. The situation in Buner, according to him, was rapidly getting back to normal. However, he expressed disapproval of the non-cooperation of WAPDA (Water and Power Development) and PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication) authorities in the province.