Only 2 of 33 print media outlets operating in Balkh

MAZR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Thirty-three operational licences were issued for print media outlets during the past two decades in northern Balkh province but currently only two are functional.

Officials cite economic problems and other limitations as the main reason for the closure of media outlets.

Atif Arian, chief editor of the Weekly Aweejha, told Pajhwok Afghan News, prior to the Islamic Emirate’s takeover, they earned an income from advertisements. Currently, however, they have neither any income source nor readers. The administration cannot afford to print the weekly on its own.

The publication was suspended because of financial straits and other problems, he said.

Abdul Saboor, chief editor of the Weekly Balkh Voice, also cited economic problems and other limitations as the reason for the closure of his weekly.

He said: “The licence for the Weekly Balkh Voice was secured in 2019, but after the collapse of the previous regime, I suspended the publication of the weekly due to economic problems and restrictions imposed on media.”

As of now, Weekly Bedar (owned by the government) and a private monthly magazine are operating in Balkh province

Habibullah Behmanish, head of Weekly Bedar, explained the publication previously appeared as a daily newspaper with a circulation of thousands of copies. However, it has now been converted into a weekly with a thousand copies week.

Najibullah, in charge of a printing press, also grumbled about the dwindling market for publications, In the past, he recalled, many daily newspapers and weeklies were published and printing presses had a good business. But now the market has slumped.

But Abdul Latif Sahak, head of the Journalists’ Safety Committee, complained the closure of media outlets had left many journalists jobless.

Information and Culture Director Atta Mohammad Sahoo said the department had issued 33 licences for print media outlets over the past two decades. But, currently, only two of them are functioning.

Government officials were in contact with chief editors of some print media organisations on how to help these outlets resume function, Sahoo said.

Apart from Balkh, In some other provinces as well, print and electronic media outlets have ceased operations, rendering many employees jobless.

aw/mud

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