It is nearly seven in the morning. A new day has begun in the streets and alleys of Kabul. People are gradually leaving their homes, and the alleys are becoming busier. Amid these sounds, the loudspeaker of a mobile vendor can be heard from a distance. The sound gets louder as the vendor approaches, passes by the houses, and then disappears around a corner. As one loudspeaker goes silent, another begins.
But in one of these homes, a young person is sitting at a desk with a book open. He wants to study and concentrate for a while, but the loudspeaker disrupts the quiet. For many mobile vendors, using loudspeakers is part of their daily work. However, for some youth, especially while studying, these sounds can cause them to lose concentration.
Marjan Zahedi, a 20-year-old resident of Karte Naw in Kabul, says these sounds are heard more often in the morning and afternoon, when many people are studying, carrying out their daily activities or resting.
“These disturbances happen mostly in the morning and afternoon, when many of us are studying, carrying out our daily tasks or resting. As a result, our daily routines are disrupted, and we cannot carry out our work according to our plans,” she says.
In other districts of Kabul, youth also complain about repeatedly hearing the loudspeakers of mobile vendors around their homes. Sometimes, these sounds are heard while they are studying or preparing for exams.
Seddiq Mohammadi, a 29-year-old resident of Kabul’s fourth district, describes one of his experiences while preparing for an exam as follows,
“When I was preparing for my fifth-semester exams, one of the subjects required me to memorize a lot of content. Just as I was studying with concentration, a mobile vendor passed in front of our house using a very loud loudspeaker. Those few seconds were enough to completely break my concentration and make me forget what I had studied. Something that should have taken about 10 to 15 minutes to memorize took nearly one to one and a half hours because of that interruption.”
Mohammadi’s experience is not the only example of how these sounds affect studying. A number of other youth have similar concerns.
Ahmad Firoz Muradi, another 23-year-old resident of Kabul’s 11th district, says the repeated sounds during the day made him move his study time to late at night, when, according to him, the loudspeakers of mobile vendors are heard less often.
“Because of the sound of mobile vendors and their loudspeakers, which are very disturbing, I do not study during the day because they have greatly affected my concentration. Every time they pass through the alley or near our house, my attention is drawn to the noise. That is why I now study only late at night, when there are no disturbing noises,” he adds.
Some youth also call for specific places for mobile vendors to work. Saleha, a 22-year-old resident of Kabul’s eighth district, says,
“We ask the authorities to provide specific and suitable places for mobile vendors so that citizens are protected from noise disturbances, people can shop more easily, and order in the city can be maintained.”
Mobile vendors’ loudspeakers; a source of noise pollution
The sound of loudspeakers in residential alleys is not only a problem for peace and studying. Environmental experts consider these sounds a source of noise pollution in urban areas. Sorosh Bakhshi, an environmental expert, says,
“Noise pollution is a silent threat to public health, and its effects appear over time. The use of loudspeakers by mobile vendors is one of the sources of noise pollution in cities. It can affect the health of students, youth and older people and may contribute to stress, anxiety and other mental health problems.”
Zuhal Amirzada, a psychologist, says sudden and loud sounds can shift the attention of youth from their studies to things happening around them, making the learning process more difficult.
“Sudden and loud sounds from mobile vendors can shift the attention of youth who are studying from their studies to things happening around them. As a result, less information remains in their minds, learning takes more time, and this can increase stress and anger and reduce the quality of learning,” she says.
Alif Khan Hamdard, an education expert, also believes that a study environment should be quiet and free from disturbing sounds.
“A study environment should be quiet, well-lit, and have good air. Anything that distracts the mind, such as noise, should be avoided, especially the loudspeakers of mobile vendors in the alleys, which disturb the concentration of students and youth,” he says.
Meanwhile, Nematullah Barakzai, Cultural Affairs Advisor to Kabul Municipality, says noise pollution is an urban violation and asks citizens not to cooperate with people who cause noise pollution.
“Noise pollution is an urban violation, and Kabul Municipality works in two areas to prevent it. Whenever municipal patrols encounter noise pollution in any area, they confiscate the loudspeakers. At the same time, we also conduct awareness programs in cooperation with neighborhood representatives. We ask citizens to cooperate with us in this regard and not to buy from people who cause noise pollution,” he adds.
Noise pollution is not the only concern for youth in Kabul. Continuous exposure to loud and disturbing sounds can affect their peace, concentration and ability to learn. While mobile vendors consider loudspeakers part of their daily work and a way to attract customers, a number of youth in Kabul are calling for better management of loudspeaker use and the establishment of specific places for mobile vendors’ activities. They say this could provide vendors with an opportunity to work while reducing noise disturbances in residential areas.
Reporter: Eshwa Azizi
