LASHKARGAH (SW) – Journalists in Helmand are faced with extraordinary problems and restrictions that needs to be resolved by the authorities, demanded Hojatullah Mujadadi, the head of the Afghanistan Free Journalists‘ Association (AFJU), during a visit to the province.
He has said the government’s policy is different here regarding treating journalists. “A policy that is implemented in other provinces should be implemented here as well. We are trying to solve these problems in coordination with the local authorities of Helmand.”
Mujadadi emphasized that if the economic problems of journalists and media in Helmand are not addressed, it is likely that media activities in this province will cease to exist.
Wahidullah Wahdat, the head of the Journalists’ Union in Helmand, said on the occasion that for some time now, media support institutions have not paid attention to the problems of journalists and media in this province, and these problems persist. He added: “Journalists in Helmand are facing a bad economic situation. Besides this, local media are also facing economic problems.”
On the other hand, Ahmad Nusrat, the head of “Sokun” radio in Helmand, acknowledged that local media in this province are facing serious economic problems. He wants media supporting institutions to cooperate with journalists and media.
He added: “It is clear that the entire media industry in Afghanistan is facing an economic problem therefore we ask the institutions that support the media to pay attention to the current situation of the media.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Qasim Riaz, the spokesperson for the Helmand governorate, said that the Islamic Emirate in Helmand and other provinces has cooperated with journalists to share information and continues to do so.
He added: “We cooperate with the media as much as we can to solve these problems. We ask the institutions that support the media to pay attention to the economic problems of journalists and the media and try to solve them.”
In the past two years, the activities of a number of media outlets have stopped due to economic problems and many journalists have also lost their jobs.
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