PESHAWAR, June 7: The BBC World Service has launched an internet site in Pushto for Pushto speakers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the diaspora.

The new site, which employs a specially commissioned Pushto script, has been warmly greeted by the leader of Afghanistan’s interim government, Hamid Karzai, a press released issued by the BBC Pushto service said.

“Afghans listen to BBC Pushto Service with great keenness. They get news about their country and the world from various BBC World Service programmes. BBC Pushto Service has many listeners, Afghans trust their news and appreciate BBC World Service for its journalism. I hope BBC Pushto Service will introduce positive aspects of internet technology to the Afghans,” it quoted Hamid Karzai as saying.

Few sites worldwide use the Pushto script. At present, BBC Pashto.com offers text and audio from BBC Pushto’s three daily news and current affairs programmes.

There is a special page about how the Loya Jirga — the Grand Assembly Afghans have traditionally used to solve political crises — will convene in Afghanistan in June plus music and concerts from some of the country’s favourite musicians and singers.

BBC World Service has the largest audience of any international or local broadcaster in Afghanistan. As well as news and current affairs, BBC World Service broadcasts the popular soap drama, New Home, New Life, and children’s programmes in Pushto and Persian.

Pushto broadcasts are heard by Pushto speakers in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India and by Afghan refugees scattered in Iran, the USA, Australia, Canada and Europe by 23 years of war.

Earlier this year, BBC World Service Trust began work in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to strengthen the local media. The Trust project involves training Afghan journalists, the supply and installation of radio equipment for Radio Afghanistan and building a media resource centre for local journalists. BBC World Service staff are also advising the Afghan Interim Authority on a regulatory media framework.