BAJAUR, April 21: Pakistan Television engineers have started work on installing a TV booster on a hilltop in the Barang area in Bajaur Agency on Monday after the political administration removed the apprehensions of tribal elders.

The booster was sanctioned by the NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, on the demand of the tribal population that they could not benefit from PTV’s transmissions.

Sources said that the PTV technical staff surveyed a number of areas for two months to find a suitable place for installing the booster. When they selected a hilltop in the Barang area, the tribal elders demanded various incentives, including jobs, from the government in return for allowing the installation of booster in their area.

However, the political administration rejected their demands and formed a jirga to persuade the Barang tribes to allow the project. The talks continued for about one month and the jirga prevailed upon the tribal elders to give land for the booster.

Officials said that the PTV engineers started work on installing the booster after the tribal elders dropped their demands.

PTV technical staff chief engineer Khalid Yousaf told Dawn on Monday that with the installation of this booster, PTV’s transmissions could be watched in the Northern Areas, including Malakand, Dir and Chitral, and the eastern provinces of Afghanistan. It will benefit about 10 million people, he added.

Mr Khalid Yousaf said the project would cost Rs8 million and it would be completed in three months.