Moreover, its synchronisation with the solidarity day, this time, will add some real purpose to Pakistan's traditional symbolic gesture its observance has meant over the past so many years.
It will be noted that demonstration of solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their long drawn struggle for liberation from Indian occupation has remained a passion for the people and governments of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Viewed in this perspective, the setting up of this independent PTV channel will also be seen as helping project that struggle in a more effective manner, besides creating awareness and promoting increasing harmony among them.
Essentially, devoted to projection of life and developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the channel should prove instrumental in promoting Kashmiri art, culture and heritage of the region in addition to keeping its people abreast with fast changing socio-economic, cultural trends the world over through imaginative and purposeful handling of its news bulletins and feature programmes, more so in the local language.
In fact, this is what the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had been waiting for quite a long time.
As such, belated though the opening of the AJK channel happens to be, it will certainly be widely welcomed as a step in the right direction.
What is all the more noteworthy, in this regard, is its timing with reference to its synchronisation with the solidarity day, thereby, demonstrating not only recognition of the aspirations of the people, but also the need of their fulfilment.
It will be recalled that it was a year ago when President Musharraf promised the channel.
Now that promise has been fulfilled in a short span of twelve months, it will certainly make the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir hope for its functioning in the desired direction.
For one thing, it will also bring into focus the positive measures aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
Taking out processions and holding public meetings to reiterate demand for the liberation of the Kashmiri people from Indian occupation serves no purpose.
The same can be said about observing the solidarity day as a closed holiday, like we did in Pakistan by paralysing life, quite unmindful of the business and economic losses, to which we had pointed out earlier in these columns.
One hopes that now that the government has moved fast to ensure fulfilment of the President's promise, by promptly releasing Rs 430 million for the project, which consisted of a TV centre and seven boosters, it will proceed with the same sense of urgency about installing the three remaining which have been marked for the next fiscal year.
Needless to point out, the opening of the AJK channel can certainly help accelerate, in its own way, the pace of Pakistan's ongoing efforts for a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute through a comprehensive dialogue on all disputes with India to which both countries stand committed.
To this end, as the President has rightly pointed out, the AJK television can contribute a great deal by countering negative and false propaganda and projecting ground realities in all earnestness.