Taliban Authority Oversees 125 Advertising Billboards in Kabul
The Publications Department of the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture has announced that the Commission for the Reform of Billboards and Advertising Boards conducted a field operation reviewing 125 billboards and advertising boards in the Karte-Now area of District 8 in Kabul. According to a statement released by the Bakhtar news agency, during this inspection, Qari Wali Gul Jawad, Head of Cultural Affairs at Kabul Municipality, emphasized that all billboards and commercial advertisements must comply with the values of Islamic Sharia, Afghan culture, and the national languages of the country. The review found that a large portion of the billboards conformed to the commission’s guidelines; however, owners of those boards identified with “deficiencies and issues” were advised on necessary corrections. Additionally, owners of billboards prepared in foreign languages were instructed to replace them with alternative words in the national languages. This move comes amid the Taliban’s increasing oversight over cultural, media, and advertising content in recent months, as it seeks to impose stricter frameworks on cultural and commercial activities in urban areas. This approach has been viewed by some residents and cultural activists as further restricting the urban and commercial environment.
