Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) has rolled out its telecommunication services in Noor Gul district of Kunar province, becoming first company to launch telecom services in the district.

Noor Gul had been deprived telecommunication services in addition to other basic life facilities.

“Telecommunication services have been launched here for the first time. The population here is very large. Many people will benefit from the services. We are trying to connect this site, which is currently connected to satellite, to Microlink in the near future,” said Attaullah Sahil, head of AWCC in the eastern zone.

The officials of Kunar Directorate of Communications welcomed the AWCC’s move.

“Around 500 families live here. Its population is about 10,000 people. Telecommunication services and facilities are provided for them. We appreciate these AWCC services,” said Abdul Wali Marshall, Kunar’s director of communications.

Jalal al-Din Shams, the spokesperson of Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA), stated: “Unfortunately, since the day that telecommunication services have started in Afghanistan, there has not been enough attention to quality. The previous governments did not pay attention to it. Fortunately, a process has started now with which ATRA and the Ministry of Communications can bring about many changes in quality.”

Residents of Noor Gul district, who previously faced many problems due to lack of access to telecommunication services, expressed their satisfaction with the latest move by AWCC.

“There was no telecommunication service here,” said Rozi Khan, a resident of Noor Gul district. “This is the first time that AWCC services have been launched here and we are very happy. We also want 3G and 4G services for more convenience. During 20 years, the government paid no attention to this valley.”

Security officials assure of providing full security.

“There were many problems here due to the lack of telecommunication services. For an ordinary call, people used to pay 300 or 400 afghanis. We assure all telecommunication companies that there is no problem in the area of security,” said Fazlur Rahman Zarqawi, the police commander of Noor Gul district.

With the improvement of security situation in the country after the Islamic Emirate’s takeover, AWCC has launched telecom and internet services in many remote areas.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Friday in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day that Afghan journalists “must be celebrated, supported and protected.”

“As we mark World Press Freedom Day, we pay tribute to journalists across Afghanistan who are doing their best to keep the nation informed, often at great risk. Their work is essential for an informed and prosperous nation and for action on education, the environment, health, the economy, and good governance for all Afghans. They must be celebrated supported, and protected,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Qatar, which operates in Qatar, also said that Afghan journalists are facing many problems in carrying out their media activities, and the activities of female journalists are still limited in this country.

Some journalists also ask the government to support the media and journalists.

“We ask the Islamic Emirate officials to approve the law on mass media and the law of access to information as soon as possible so that journalists can carry out their work following these laws,” said Haidar Nazari, a journalist.

Reporters Without Borders in its latest ranking of media freedom, recognized Afghanistan as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists and added that the country has fallen from 152nd to 178th place.

“The state of the Afghan media in the economic sector and the country’s journalists are in a bad economic situation, this matter should be taken seriously. Otherwise, publishing statements and declaring support for the media community will not be effective,” said Hojatullah Mujadadi, the head of Afghanistan Free Journalists’ Association (AFJU).

The IEA officials have repeatedly emphasized that they are committed to supporting freedom of speech and media activity in the country in accordance with Islamic values ​​and national interests, and they are trying to provide reliable and timely information to journalists.

The National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) said this week that in the past year, almost 28,000 foreign nationals have visited Afghanistan.

The authority said that over the past year, it registered the entry and exit of 27,914 foreign citizens through land border crossings and airports in the country.

According to the figures recorded by this authority, the highest number of border crossings of foreigners was through Nimroz province crossing, Herat airport, Torkham crossing, Haritan crossing and Kabul International Airport.

NSIA said most people came in for work purposes or as tourists.

The authority also stated that tourists primarily visited historical sites in Bamiyan, Herat, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Ghor, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Paktia, Khost, Nuristan, Balkh, Samangan and Kunar provinces.