20 years ago today, Arman radio station began broadcasting in Kabul, in which both male and female staff produced various programs.

The broadcasting of the Arman radio station extended to various provinces across the country. Arman has rapidly become famous among the Afghans due to its unique programs.

“It has been 20 years since the foundation of Arman radio station. We can undoubtedly say that the birth of Arman radio station was an important step and even a cultural revolution,” said Mansour Muwahid, head of Arman radio station.

“I like to follow the programs about how to keep our city clean,” said Mumtaz Yousufzai, a resident of Kabul.

The radio broadcasts news, events, entertainment and educational programs.

“It obviously had an influence on the behavior of the people, on their mindset and on the reconstruction of the society and the opinions of the people,” a Kabul resident said.

The employees called on the Islamic Emirate to take serious steps toward providing access to information for journalists.

“Challenges facing access to information and freedom of speech and causing self- censoring should be eliminated,” said Ahmad Shah, announcer.

“Arman radio station was first an entertainment radio station but now we have cultural and other programs which are very different compared to before,” said Farheen, announcer.

The Ministry of Information and Culture said that 193 radio stations are currently active in Afghanistan.

At least 40 radio stations have halted their operations due to economic challenges.

“Some of the radio stations, whose number is less than 40, their economic condition was not good, which caused them to collapse,” said Abdul Matin Qani, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture.