PESHAWAR, July 2: AVT Khyber, Pakistan's first Pushto satellite television channel, started its test transmission on Thursday.

According to an AVT Khyber's press release issued by its local bureau, Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.

PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan, who was present on the occasion, expressed delight at the advent of another regional language television channel in the country.

The launching ceremony was held at the main office of AVT Khyber, State Life Building, Blue Area, Islamabad. The information secretary and PTV MD visited all sections of the AVT channel and appreciated the efforts of its management to launch a Pushto channel.

AVT Khyber's chief executive Jawad Hamid Raja said it was the first television channel to transmit programmes through the Asia Sat satellite beamed also for Afghanistan, Middle East and other countries.

Through this channel, a large number of Pakhtuns living around the world will be provided news and entertainment programmes, he added. Mr Jawad said the channel would provide news, current affairs programmes and entertainment.

The entertainment segment will have dramas, music shows and stage shows. Director News and Current Affairs AVT said it was a great moment for the 70 million Pakhtuns to have got their own channel. "There are numerous regional language channels in the region. However, he hoped that AVT Khyber will prove a real representative of Pakhtun society and culture.