MAZAR-I-SHARIF (SW) – Abdul Latif Sohak, the head of the journalists’ immunity committee in the northern region, has confirmed that the local radio “Nahad” in Balkh has stopped its activity after 16 years.
Seyyed Mohammad Yazdanparast, the person in charge of Radio Nihad broadcasts, told Salam Watandar that this radio has stopped its broadcasts due to economic problems, the high cost of electricity in Balkh and the lack of support programs from the government. Yazdanparast added that seven women and 18 men have lost their jobs after this radio stopped working.
Radio Nehad was founded and started to operate in 2006 by Najib Pikan, one of the civil figures and university professor. This radio, having news, social, cultural and artistic programs, had broadcasts in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the center of Balkh and some districts of this province.
The head of the journalists’ immunity committee in the northern area, Abdul Latif Sohak, said that their efforts in coordination with other media support institutions, in line with the continuation of this radio’s activity, have been fruitless.
Officials in Balkh Information and Culture Department say that this department has not been officially involved in the suspension of Radio Nehad.
On the other hand, the organization supporting the free media of Afghanistan, NAI issued a statement in response to the suspension of the activities of the radio, saying that it is “extremely concerned” about the closure. NAI’s announcement stated that one of the achievements of the past 20 years is the presence of mass media and media pluralism in Afghanistan, and this 20-year achievement is deteriorating in the current situation. “With the suspension of media activities, not only the scope of information and freedom of expression has narrowed, but a large group of journalists and media workers have also become unemployed, which makes it difficult for them to continue to survive.”
According to NAI statistics, following the political developments in the country, nearly half of the media in Afghanistan have stopped their activities, and more than 65% of journalists and media workers have lost their jobs.
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