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Street begging on the rise in Mazar-e-Sharif |
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By MOHAMMAD SHAIQ PAYMAN MAZAR-E-SHARIF - Like other large cities, Mazar-e-Sharif is a city of contradictions. Luxury vehicles are a common sight, as are the hundreds of beggars and street peddlers roaming Balkh’s provincial capital. The peddlers, who include a large number of women and girls, sell trinkets and small items to earn a living. Mazar residents say there are more beggars than ever. "I believe that the number of beggars is increasing every day," said resident Mirwais, as he handed a few notes to a young boy. I don't think most of these people are begging out of habit. They really don't have any other means of earning money." The number of people selling small items on the side of the road and in the middle of traffic have also increased, residents say. They weave in and out traffic to sell tissue paper, chewing gum, caps and cigarettes. |
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Kabul residents welcome removal of barriers |
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By AKBAR ROSTAMI The Kabul Municipality and Ministry of Interior Affairs launched an ambitious plan this week to remove concrete and Hesco barriers that surround public buildings across the capital. Kabul residents say they welcome the initiative, but some say the process is taking too long to implement. In the last five years, due to increasing insecurity in the capital, security ministries and other government agencies, as well as international organizations erected concrete barriers to protect their offices and residences. Two major suicide attacks against the Indian Embassy and the Safi Landmark in recent years fueled roadblocks and barriers. Most of Kabul's roads and lanes are blocked off and many parts of the city, including central districts, look like military zones. In addition, powerful figures have set up barriers and roadblocks around their homes without permits and other approvals. |
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Electoral public outreach campaigns limited this year, candidates say |
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By SEDIQ ZALIQ Election Day is in less than three weeks, but the Electoral Complaints Commission, which was slated to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign, has so far not done any outreach. Meanwhile, many media owners and managers say the Independent Electoral Commission’s electoral public outreach campaigns have been limited this year too. Existing outreach has been imbalanced, some added. "The behavior of the IEC with respect to public awareness is not fair to all media outlets," said a media marketing manager who declined to be named. "The IEC selected electronic media outlets that only have coverage in one or two provinces." He added that the IEC should select media outlets that cover at least half the country. |
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