Joint Meeting Held Between Local Authorities, UNAMA, and Media Representatives in Laghman

Wednesday, 16th of Saur – Laghman

A joint meeting was held in Laghman province with the participation of local government officials, representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and media representatives. The meeting was organized by UNAMA’s Eastern Office and led by the Directorate of Information and Culture, aiming to strengthen coordination and address the challenges and needs of the media sector.
The meeting was attended by local media officials, the provincial representative of the Afghan Journalists and Media Support Organization (AJMSO), the provincial governor’s spokesperson, a UNAMA delegation, and a number of journalists.
Mawlawi Abdul Noor Rasooli, Director of Information and Culture in Laghman, welcomed the participants and expressed appreciation for UNAMA’s efforts in listening to the voices of the media. He stated that media outlets and journalists in the province enjoy freedom of activity within the existing regulatory framework, and that access to information has been facilitated for them. He also added that the local administration has worked to provide necessary facilitation for media operations.
He further emphasized that in order to improve the economic situation of the media, UNAMA should coordinate with its international partner organizations so that, prior to the implementation of projects, media outlets can be utilized in public awareness campaigns. He noted that this would both strengthen the financial situation of the media and enhance public awareness.
In his remarks, Atiqullah Quraishi, provincial representative of AJMSO in Laghman, highlighted existing challenges and stressed the need for financial support to the media. He also called for the implementation of training programs for journalists in areas such as the responsible use of artificial intelligence, digital security, psychological and physical safety, and access to information.
He further emphasized stronger cooperation between UNAMA and the media and urged the organization to include practical and effective media support in its agenda.
Meanwhile, Romal Delarosa, Acting Head of UNAMA’s Eastern Office, expressed satisfaction with the level of coordination between the local administration, the Directorate of Information and Culture, and the media in Laghman, describing it as an important achievement. He noted that the financial situation of the media remains concerning and assured that efforts would be made to explore and implement ways to support media outlets financially.
He further added that UNAMA also plans to implement programs aimed at capacity building and training for journalists.