DUSHANBE, March 4, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) plans to launch its official radio station in the near future, the PDPT public relations department head Usmon Solehov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the party’s executive committee has recently received an appropriate order on this subject from President Emomali Rahmon, who is chairman of the party.

“The radio station is expected to go on their air during this month,” said he, “At first, the radio station will broadcast for Dushanbe and nearby districts and gradually, its broadcast will be expanded to cover the whole country.”  The radio station will run party’s news, broadcast literary programs and play music, Solehov added.

In the meantime, the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) leader Muhiddin Kabiri told Asia-Plus that they have failed to get a license for the party TV channel so far.  “However, we sill hope to launch the IRP TV channel despite bureaucratic obstacles,” Kabiri said.

Founded in 1993, the People’s Democratic Party is the largest political party in Tajikistan, boasting some 130,000 registered members.  President Emomali Rahmon is chairman of the party.  The PDP controls some 65 percent of the seats in parliament (45 of 63 seats).