KABUL (SW): Nusrat Rahimi, spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting MoIB expressed fear on Monday that the millions of dollars invested in this sector could go in vain.
The telecom sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the war-torn country thanks to the surging number of youth mobile and internet users. Rahimi told a press conference here today that the potential of this sector was yet to be utilized.
He criticized the new minister for overlooking the issues and aliening himself with some private firms. He said though Afghanistan owned a satellite but instead of earning revenue from it, the country was paying U-Tel, a foreign firm $ 4 million a year for the satellite services.
“I tabled my resignation at the Ministers’s table 20 days ago due to these issues”, he calimed, adding the officials have still paid no attention to the issues hindering the growth of telecom sector. “Telecommunication and internet quality are detraining and I have been compelled to some in front of the press today to disclose the situation”, he said.
In his 100-day plan announced in May, Abdul Razaq Waheedi promised to provide easy and better internet access to the university students as part of the ministry’s 100-day plan.
The minister mentioned paving the way for e-governance, and encouraging the private sector in the fields of information and technology as part of his agenda. SW tried to contact the minister and get his views on the remarks made by Rahimi but the calls were not replied.
ENDS
