Telecom services inaccessible in 16 Badakhshan districts

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Residents of remote districts of northeastern Badakhshan complain about their lack of access to telecommunication services.

However, the provincial Telecommunication and Information Technology department says that more than 30 projects of telecom and internet services are being implemented in the province.

Abdul Razzaq, a resident of Tishkan district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the lack of telecom networks was a serious problem in their area.

He said: “If we want to call our friends, we have to walk for hours or climb the mountain so we can make a call and solve our problem.”

A number of other residents of 16 districts of Badakhshan, including Darayim, Tishkan, Zebak, Yamgan, Ishkashim, Wakhan, Sheghnan, Mayami, Nusay, Sheki, Kof Aab, Khwahan, Kohistan, Yawan, Arghistan and Shahr-i-Buzurg spoke about problems they faced due to lack of telecom services.

Dadkhoda, a resident of Sheki district, also asked the Islamic Emirate to solve the issue that they had been facing for years.

According to him, they have been using SIM cards from Tajikistan for years and are facing serious problems in this regard.

Mohammad Farooq, a resident of Maimy Darwaz district, said internet services were not accessible in their district and a voice call could be made with difficulty in limited areas of the district.

Maulvi Mohammad Noori, Tikshan district chief, said the district residents not only needed telecom services, but roads, clinics and schools.

On the other hand, Qari Abdul Naser, head of telecommunication department, acknowledged the residents of border districts and some central districts lacked access to telecom and internet services.

However, he said that this year, 30 projects of telecommunication and internet services were being implemented in the province and work on them had progressed more than 50 percent.

According to him, the Telecommunications Department based on people’s requests and suggestions will implement six projects concerning the Afghan Wireless Telecom company in districts to provide 3G internet service to residents

sa/ma