BBC Monitoring

Text of report in English by Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency website

Peshawar, 25 August: The Pakistani government has allowed Afghan print and electronic media organisations to set up offices in the neighbouring country.

Salim Safi, head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Journalist Union Association, told Pajhwok Afghan News the permission was granted by Federal Minister for Information Muhammad Ali Durrani.

The Pakistan governments came after it banned airing of Afghan television channels programmes. A group of Afghan media-people had earlier asked Durrani to let the Afghan media operate in Pakistan.

Afghanistan Journalist Association head Fazel Sancharaki appreciated the step, saying both Afghans and Pakistanis wanted to know more about each other.

Source: Pajhwok Afghan News website, Kabul, in English 1510 gmt 25 Aug 07