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NEPA and Kabul municipality taken to task over pollution problem

Published

4 years ago

November 8, 2020

(Last Updated On: )

Afghanistan’s Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) on Sunday summoned National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) officials, and Kabul municipal officials to answer questions over the high levels of pollution in Kabul city among other issues.

According to senators, government is responsible for taking practical steps to reduce the pollution in Kabul. Without control, Kabul residents are exposed to various diseases, senators said.

“The situation has raised concerns. Some hotels and bakeries use low-quality products. Why are you not managing the problems,” said Farahnaz Pamiri, a senator.

Buildings, without proper planning permission were also raised and concerns voiced.

“The buildings that were built without any authorization and the use of low-quality materials has affected the environment badly. Government should stop these problems,” said Mohammad Akbari, another senator.

NEPA, however, acknowledged the pollution problem and said government institutions are implementing recommended measures but very slowly.

“We have a long-term plan. We have identified 52 causes of pollution. The government institutions implement the recommended measures so slowly,” said Ezatullah Siddiqi, deputy head of NEPA.

Kabul’s Mayor Daoud Sultanzoy, meanwhile said that in order to fight pollution, the public needs to cooperate as 30 percent of pollution is caused by members of the public.

“As we investigated, 200 factory buildings out of 600 have filters and 149 others installed filters last year. We monitor buildings seriously. We will ask police for their cooperation if needed,” said Sultanzoy.

Senators said government should also stop the practice of importing low-quality fuel so as to reduce the level of air pollution in Kabul city.

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Muttaqi: IEA won’t fight against one country to satisfy another

Published

15 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi has said that the Islamic Emirate has a balanced foreign policy and it will not fight for the happiness of one country against another.

Addressing Afghan diaspora in Oman, Muttaqi emphasized that the Islamic Emirate ensures security across the country in such a way that foreign meddling will be prevented.

“We have a balanced policy. Balanced policy means that for the happiness of one country, we do not fight with another. For the happiness of one country, we do not oppose the other. We want normal relations with all,” he said.

Muttaqi also rejected division within the IEA.

“The existence of differences, chaos and insecurity is not true. No matter how much propaganda is done, in practice you can see that no incidents happen in Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar, Jalalabad and Herat,” he said.

Muttaqi said that during his visit to Oman, he has sought to expand bilateral trade.

He also emphasized that after the return of Islamic Emirate, a serious fight against drugs has taken place in Afghanistan and they have managed to treat 400,000 drug addicts.

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Tornadoes strike US South, killing 33 people amid rising risk

In Arkansas, three deaths occurred, the state’s Department of Emergency Management said, adding that there were 32 injuries.

Published

20 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Tornadoes killed at least 33 people across several states in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast on Saturday night, with at least 12 fatalities reported in Missouri, CNN reported.

More than 500 homes, a church and grocery store in Butler County were destroyed and a mobile home park had been “totally destroyed,” Robbie Myers, the director of emergency management for Missouri’s Butler County said.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves posted on X that six deaths had been reported in the state.

According to preliminary assessments, 29 people were injured statewide and 21 counties sustained storm damage, Reeves said.

In Arkansas, three deaths occurred, the state’s Department of Emergency Management said, adding that there were 32 injuries.

Twenty-six tornadoes were reported but not confirmed to have touched down late on Friday night and early on Saturday as a low-pressure system drove powerful thunderstorms across parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri, said David Roth, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.

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UN Security Council to vote on extension of UNAMA mission in Afghanistan

The council said in a report that if approved, the mandate would extend the UNAMA mission for another year without changing its mandate and priorities.

Published

22 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

The UN Security Council announced it is scheduled to vote on Monday 17 March on a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, for another year.

The council said in a report that if approved, the mandate would extend the UNAMA mission for another year without changing its mandate and priorities.

According to the report, the draft mandate specified for UNAMA, for another year, include human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, women, peace and security, the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, drug trafficking, small arms, internally displaced persons and refugees, and the effects of natural disasters.

The UN Security Council said that all 15 permanent and non-permanent members of the council are expected to support it.

This comes after the Islamic Emirate recently called the UNAMA mission in Afghanistan a “failure.”

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, accused UNAMA of providing “negative and inaccurate” reports on the situation in Afghanistan.

Mujahid said that UNAMA’s reports had created a “negative mindset” towards Afghanistan within the UN.