Officials of private media outlets in Badakhshan said that after the political changes in the country, they face economic challenges and could not pay their staff salaries.

“After the political changes in the country, the media security situation is good but the media is faced with economic challenges and are not able to pay staff salaries,” said Abdul Basir Haqjo, head of a media outlet in Badakhshan.

“Before we had some commercial income and could pay salaries,” said Najla Sherzai, head of another local media outlet.

Meanwhile, some employees in the private media said that it has been one year that they worked without any salary or little income.

“How long have we been working here, we work voluntarily, because we have not been given a salary,” said Hasiba, a media employee.

Meanwhile, local officials in Badakhshan province talked about the efforts aimed at addressing the economic challenges of private media in the province.

“We shared the challenges with officials, and the officials assured us they will build a plan for media income for the next year,” said Mazuldden Ahmadi, head of culture and information in Badakhshan.

Currently, three media and 11 audio media operate in Badakhshan, of which two media are run by women.