Herat media outlets struggling with financial crisis

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A number of media outlets have stopped functioning, laying off their employees in western Herat province due to unfavourable market conditions.

Civil society organisations and media organisation owners have expressed their concern over recent curbs imposed on them and journalists. They asked the Information Ministry to allow journalists and media organisations to work independently.

Bashir Ali, Istiqlal TV owner in Herat province, said private media outlets faced a variety of challenges — work limitations, financial crisis. In the presence of such circumstances, he said, media outlets would not be able to operate meaningfully.

He added: “Media outlets play the role of light and eyes in any society, promoting awareness among the masses on many issues.”

Due to recent curbs imposed on them, most media organisations have been facing serious problems and their employees and senior management have fled the country.

Fatima, a civil society activist, said media outlets being a powerful institution symbolised unity and the strength of the masses, offering the people hope for a bright future.

But Information Director Naeemul Haq Haqqani alleged: “Some foreign media outlets are trying to create chaos and disturb people’s minds through their nefarious campaign. They are out to keep the masses away from facts on the ground.”

He said after the Islamic Emirate’s takeover frequent meetings were held with owners of media outlets and efforts made to make media operations consistent with Islamic teachings.

In recent years, print and electronic media outlets witnessed speedy progress. A dozen television channels and 13 radio stations were active in Herat alone.

nh/mud

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