Info Ministry plans to set up media-monitoring body

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI), while emphasising the protection of monuments and complaining about the role of social media, has announced the establishment of a media monitoring commission.

The ministry also announced that a new fund for supporting media workers had been set up. The $850,000 fund would be transferred from its previous location to MoCI, he said.

Historical monuments

Minister of Information Mohammad Zahir Zaheer, addressing a press conference here, called on the people to cooperate with his ministry on preserving historical monuments and cultural heritage, especially in and war-torn areas.

Referring to the intensifying war in the country, he referred to concerns that mafia groups, smugglers and opportunists might use the space to plunder Afghanistan’s historical sites and cultural heritage.

Non-professional reports on social media

Abdul Manan Shiwai Sharq, deputy minister of publications, told the press conference that many social media users acted without distinguishing between “positive and negative freedoms” and released unbalanced and non-professional news and information.

Sharq estimated around three million social media outlets were currently operating in an unprofessional manner -- something that amounted irregularity on the part of the media.

He urged the people active on social media to differentiate between “positive and negative news” and not to trust non-professional reports.

Media-monitoring body

Regarding the challenges the ministry faced, Sharq said one of them was lack of a media monitoring body to ensure the freedom of expression.

“We have submitted the plan to the cabinet look forward to the early establishment the proposed panel,” he added.

Plan of media violation commission

“The MoCI has devised a plan for the media violation commission with the renewal of membership and the addition of institutions included in line with plan,” he explained.

“Based on legal provisions in this procedure, the commission for investigating media violations will launch its activities more fundamentally and seriously than before,” he promised.

Media persons’ support fund

“We finalised the Afghan Media Employees Support Fund’s monetary policy in cooperation with the Government Media and Information Centre. This week, the fund will become operational,” Sharq informed.

He added the fund currently had $850,000 and that would be transferred to the MoCI. About 1,974 media outlets have not renewed their licences, failing to pay taxes. They were instructed to clear their dues.

sa/mud