The head of the Taliban’s Disaster Management Authority, Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, has said that employees of the agency have a critical need to use smartphones in order to save lives and property during natural disasters. However, he stressed that lifting the ban on smartphones is not possible without the approval of the Taliban leader, Mullah Hibatullah.
According to a document obtained by the media, the use of smartphones in the Taliban’s Disaster Management Authority has been prohibited since 26 Jowza.
The directive states that, in order to continue rescue and relief operations, all employees must keep their basic or feature phones active so they can be contacted when needed.
It also instructs the heads of central and provincial offices to share their staff members’ contact numbers with the central office, and notes that those who do not have access to email should remain in contact with the administration via text messages and basic mobile phones.
Previously, documents had also been published indicating that Mullah Hibatullah had issued a verbal decree banning the use of smartphones for Taliban members and government employees.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
