Around 123 radio networks stop functioning nationwide

KABUL (Pajhwok): Around 123 radio stations have stopped functioning mainly due to financial crises nationwide before regime change in August 2021, Pajhwok Afghan News has learned reliably.

The Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs (MoIC) provided a list of 458 radios that were functional in the country while Pajhwok Afghan News learned that in addition to 458 radios 18 more were functional in the country as well that makes a total 476 radios.

The MoIC said that out of 458 radios 183 had extended their work permit while the work permit extension of 96 other radio networks was underway. The ministry, however, did not provide information about the condition for work permit for the remaining 211 radio stations.

Pajhwok strived to contact 476 radios to get information about their activeness or passiveness but contact with 150 radios was not established.

It was discovered that out of 203 radios networks that reached for comment 123 radios are not functioning.

Pajhwok finding showed that of the 123 dysfunctional radio networks, 52 stopped functioning before regime change last year, 20 radios stopped functioning during regime change — July, 21, 2022- August 15, 2021 — and 24 radios stopped functioning after regime change. The time of 27 more radio when they stopped functioning was not known.

Detail:

The MoIC said of the registered 458 radios, 183 have extended their licenses while work on the extension of 64 more radios licenses was underway.

The ministry did not provide more information regarding the work licenses of 211 remaining radios and did not reveal how many radios stopped functioning.

Information from the MoIC showed nearly half of the radio about which information not provided are in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, Kandahar and Paktia provinces.

The ministry said the licenses of 31 radios are extended in Kabul, nine in Balkh, eight in Nangarhar, six in Herat, four in Kandahar, six in Paktia, five in Takhar, three in Ghazni, six in Parwan, six in Baghlan, nine in Khost, seven in Badakhshan, four in Paktika, seven in Jawzjan, five in Helmand, two in Faryab, three in Logar, three in Kunar, three in Ghor, five in Uruzgan, five in Badghis, five in Farah, four in Laghman, Four in Sar-i-Pul, four in Maidan Wardak, four in Nimroz, two in Samangan province, two in Daikundi, two in Bamyan, two in Zabul and one in Panjshir province.

The source said that work on the extension of eight radios was underway in Kabul, five radios in Balkh, nine radios in Nangarhar, four radios in Herat, two in Kandahar, five in Paktia, two in Ghazni, three in Takhar, two in Parwan, three in Baghlan, two in Paktika, two in Faryab, one in Logar, two in Uruzgan, three in Laghman, one in Samangan, one in Daikundi, two in Bamyan, one in Nimroz, five in Sar-i-Pul and five in Nuristan.

The MoIC did not provide information regarding the work license extension of 38 radios in Kabul, 22 radios in Balkh, 13 radios in Nangarhar, 18 in Herat, seven in Kandahar, seven in Paktia, 12 in Ghazni, 10 in Kunduz, nine in Takhar, eight in Parwan, six in Baghlan, four in Khost, six in Badakhshan, six in Paktika, five in Jawzjan, six in Helmand, five in Daikundi, four in Logar, one in Uruzgan, one in Farah, one in Nimroz, three in Zabul, two in Kunar, one in Ghor, three in Kapesa and one in Panjshir province.

The MoIC provided information regarding radio networks functioning of none-functioning one month earlier, however, Pajhwok Afghan News learned that besides the radios identified by the ministry 18 more radios were functional in different provinces.

Pajhwok strived to establish contact with total 476 radio networks to get information regarding the activeness or passiveness of these networks but 150 Radio networks could not reached for comment and other source also did not provide information about them. Pajhwok finding showed that of the remaining 203 radio network 123 are not functioning.

It is pertinent to mention that some radio networks functioned under a same name which is registered in the MoIC. Of these radios Pajhwok listed one radio.

Pajhhwok finding showed that active radio in Kabul are 30, Nangarhar and Kandahar 30 each, Khost, Badakhshan, Takhar and Jawzjan 10 each, Balkh and Herat nine each, Kunduz, eight, Baghlan seven, Paktia, Ghazni, Helmand, Laghman, Farah and Badghis five each, Logar, Nimroz, Uruzgan, Kunar, Ghor and Sar-i-Pul four each, Parwan, Patikika, Faryab, Maidan Wardak and Zabul three each, Samangan, Bamyan and Nuristan two each, Panjshir and Kapesa one each.

Radios not functioning are 26 in Kabul, 17 in Balkh, eight in Nangarhar, seven in Parwan, six in Paktia, five each in Herat, Kunduz, Baghlan, Faryab, Bamyan and Paktia, four each in Kandahar, Ghazni, Helmand and Maidan Wardak, three each in Laghman, Logar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Daikundi and Samangan, two each in Nimroz, Badakhshan, Takhar, Farah, Kunar, Kapesa and one in Panjshir province.

Pajhwok has learned that 105 radios were founded from 2002 to 2011, 154 radio founded from 2011 to 2020, eight radios established in 2021 while the foundation date of 204 other radios still unknown. Of these radios 123 stopped functioning in indefinite time.

Reasons:

According to the information of Radios officials, 38 radios stopped functioning due to financial crisis, three radios stopped functioning after their employees went to foreign countries, three radios stopped functioning due to curbs and their employees trip to foreign countries, three radios did not work due security issues, two radios stopped functioning due to security threats and robbery of its equipment, two radios went off due to technical issues, two radios went off due to financial and security issues, one radio each stopped functioning because of unfriendly condition, looting and damage to equipment, destruction of a radio network due to conflict, owners lack of owner’s interest, grabbing of a radio network by a woman and misuse of administrative power, involvement of local administration and employees fleeing to foreign, none availability of budget and interference of government in the broadcasting affairs. Reasons behind the closure of 63 radio networks could not be ascertained.

Recommendation:

Twenty-seven officials of radio networks during chat with Pajhwok Afghan News demanded financial support, three demanded the provision of commercials, two demanded capacity building, three demanded none-interference of government, two demanded eradication of curbs on the media and one radio network official demanded attention to women journalists.

Hujatullah Mujadidi, head of the Afghanistan’s Independent journalists Union, said: “Unfortunately there was no database created in the past 22 years through which the exact number of media outlets and journalists could be identified, Pajhwok findings in this regard in these circumstances were effective and would prove pioneer step in identifying exact information about media outlets in the future.”

He added: “Our investigation also showed that two main reasons could be behind the fall of media in Afghanistan, first is economic and financial crisis which played a key role in the halt of media functioning and the second is the lack of legal support and backing from the contemporary rulers.”

He said there was urgent need that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) shall support free media by empowering the Access to Information Commission, Media Violations Commission, reduced taxes and electricity charges on media outlets.

Mawlavi Abdul Haq Hammad, head of the media monitoring department in the MoIC, acknowledged facts and figures provided by Pajhwok and added the ministry also published these figures.

Referring to 18 radios not including in the MoIC list, but discovered by Pajhwok, he said it could be possible that these radio existed but went missing or started functioning after data collection on radio networks.

The MoIC in its message on the World Radio Day said that government was committed to the freedom, supported access to information, media outlets special radios. It stressed the freedom of expression must be in the limits of Islamic and national values.

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