ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) would launch its own educational TV channel this year to provide media-based academic support to its students and promoting online distance learning system home and abroad, said a press release issued. While presiding over a task group’s quarterly review meeting of Institute of Educational Technology (IET), Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui said that the necessary homework to this effect has been completed and now they would formally approach PEMRA for its permission. He said that it is the part of the university’s consistent efforts for providing quality and accelerated education to their students through smart use of electronic network adding that IET’s department is playing a proactive role for arranging media and technology-based academic programmes for the benefit of students. A web channel of the university is already working successfully and a number of its beneficiaries have reached in thousands. He appreciated the IET Director Mir Mukhtar Ahmed Talpur and his team for their efforts in preparing multimedia academic programmes and expanding FM radio network in the country. Siddiqui said that the AIOU’s FM radio services would be available in seven regional offices across the country by the end this year adding that they are also in process of launching short courses for the media professionals. He said that a comprehensive strategy has also been prepared for online conducting of PhD and MPhil programmes adding that the students would get electronic version of their study material. He said that the assignments would also be received and evaluated accordingly.