IEA confirms 280 radio stations currently on-air in the country

Acknowledging World Radio Day on Tuesday, February 13, the Ministry of Information and Culture said the Islamic Emirate is committed to supporting the media and confirmed that 280 radio stations are currently on air across Afghanistan.

Deputy minister Mahajer Farahi said: “Currently, there are about 280 radio stations in our country, including Kabul, in all the provinces and districts of the country.”

After print media, radio was the second media type in Afghanistan.

The first radio station in Afghanistan began broadcasting in 1927 in Kabul and over the years, before the arrival of TV, radio was the main source of information in the country.

One popular radio service in Afghanistan is Ariana FM, which was launched in 2005.

Nabila Mohammadi, an employee of Ariana FM, said: “Regarding the fact that there is no television or electricity in some houses, our radio listeners can listen to the radio even on their telephones and in their cars.”

Ali Heidari, another Ariana FM employee, said: “After the developments in the country [in 2021], a number of private and government radios started operating again, and the radios found a very good position.”

The office of the deputy head of the UN in Kabul also acknowledged World Radio Day and said it is difficult to imagine a world without radio. The office said the organization supports freedom of expression in Afghanistan.

Last year, 24 new radio stations were established in the country and 19 others, who had suspended broadcasts, restarted.

Hojatullah Mujadadi, the head of the Free Journalist Association of Afghanistan, said: “We are celebrating World Radio Day while there are 358 media outlets in Afghanistan … of which around 1,800 male and 270 female employees are engaged in sharing media information to the Afghan people.”

Abdul Qadim Weyar, the head of the Committee for the Immunity of Journalists, said: “There are currently between 250 to 300 radio stations in Afghanistan.”

However, not having timely access to information is the biggest problem for journalists, and many media outlets also face financial difficulties.

The first radio station in Afghanistan named Radio Kabul was established in 1925 and its first program was broadcast in 1927. Radio Kabul is still broadcasting.