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.

Abdul Latif Mansour, Acting Minister of Water and Energy, met with Zhao Xing, the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, on Thursday in Kabul.

The Ministry says that Mujibur Rahman Omar Akhundzada, deputy Minister of Water; Dr. Farooq Azam, the official advisor of the Ministry; and a number of technical officials were also at the meeting where they discussed joint cooperation in the implementation of water and electricity projects.

Both sides noted the good economic and commercial relations between the two countries, and discussed various issues including the Bagh Dara dam project in Kapisa province and the Surobi 2 power dam project – which will supply electricity to Mes Aynak copper mine in Logar province.

Mansour said the implementation of these projects was important and necessary, especially the power project for Mes Aynak mine.

“Mr. Mansour stressed on speeding up the affairs to start the practical work and reminded the Chinese companies to show the necessary seriousness and determination in the implementation of these projects; the ministry will contract more projects for investment with Chinese companies in the future,” the statement read.

At the same time, the Chinese ambassador assured the leadership of the ministry of the embassy’s cooperation in the implementation of these projects and promised that Chinese companies will take the necessary measures to invest in the mentioned projects as soon as possible.