Wednesday August 16, 2017
Kabul (BNA) On the threshold of Afghanistan Independence Day, to be marked on August 10, a seminar titled ‘Review of historic period of Afghanistan press from 19 – 21 century’ was held by ministry of information and culture in Kabul. In the seminar attended by a number of representatives of people in parliament, media officials, foreign ambassadors to Afghanistan, writers and poets, deputy minister of publication affairs for information and culture Sayed Fazil Sancharaki while considering Afghanistan press as one of top press in the country’s history said the seminar was held on the threshold of marking Afghanistan Independence Day and to find previous root of the history of Afghanistan press, adding that they should know that today’s press was not unprecedented, but it had root in the history of Afghanistan. “In this seminar, we want to review ups and downs, pest and jumps of Afghanistan press from two viewpoints: first from works done in this regard and second from briefings of Afghanistan press elite figures speaking related to roots of the history of Afghanistan press”, Sancharaki said.
Pointing to development and establishment of the history of Afghanistan press from the time of Amir Shir Ali Khan, Habibullah Khan, Mahmoud Tarzi – national unity government era, deputy minister of publication affairs added media in our country had nearly 150 years history and has experienced ups and downs, pest and lots of jumps in various periods of the history of Afghanistan press. Deputy minister of publication affairs while considering development of media and press as unprecedented in the country during the past one decade stressed on legalization of media activities in the country, asserting that the national unity government of Afghanistan was strongly supporting media activities but wanted all media organizations to manage their broadcasts and activities in accordance to the country’s laws, national values and interests and awareness for the people.
Pointing to activities followed towards institutionalization of media and freedom of expression in the past few years, Sancharaki recalled of approval of law on the right of access to information, creating journalists support fund, formation of commission for access to information and commission of media violation and reviewing nearly 700 cases of violence against journalists by judicial organs, adding that they were trying to provide further facilities for the media of the country so that they could manage their activities in accordance to the country’s laws. At the end of the conference, an exhibition was opened in cooperation with Directorate of Baihaqi Publishers and were put pictures, newspapers of the country’s historic periods and works and artifacts of Afghanistan media organizations.
Suraya Raiszada
