PESHAWAR, April 19: Provincial Information Minister Asif Iqbal has said the NWFP government is considering setting up a television channel.

Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club’s ‘Guest Hour’ programme here on Saturday, he said it was not a new idea.

A previous government had done a lot of work on the feasibility of this project, he said, adding that it was a good move to have a local channel.

He said the government was thinking to link the release of its advertisements to newspapers with the implementation of wage award in the industry.

Mr Iqbal stressed the need for combating the western propaganda against Muslims all over the world. During the Gulf War II, he said, the western media had made a mockery of the truth by spreading rumours and showing fake footage of the war.

About the Legal Framework Order, he said the provincial government was bound to endorse the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) stance on the matter. The religious coalition wanted to solve all issues, including the LFO, through talks, he added.

Explaining priorities of the MMA government, Mr Iqbal said it had made many changes on education and health fronts. “We are working to better the lot of those poor segments of society who had voted for the MMA in the general elections,” he added.

The minister denied that the MMA government was against any artiste. “We are opposed to wild western culture which negates our religious values and traditions,” he added.

Mr Iqbal said the Nifaz-i-Shariat Council had outlined a media policy in its recommendations, which would be given a legal cover through the provincial assembly.