12:00 GMT, September 7, 2009 The UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand, comprised of military and civilian personnel, has helped fund and refurbish a provincial media centre for the local government in Lashkar Gah.

The centre was opened last week by Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal. Based on the Government Media and Information Centre in Kabul, it boasts state-of-the-art facilities and will provide a mechanism through which the Afghan Government and Helmandis can more effectively communicate with each other, Afghans elsewhere, and the international community.

Opening the new facility, Governor Mangal said: "We will now be connected to the country and world through this facility and it will enable us to present Helmand to the world and country."

The Lashkar Gah facility is the only purpose-built media centre outside of Kabul and includes two press conference rooms capable of seating up to 70 journalists, each equipped with wireless internet and video conferencing facilities; a large conference room; and a VIP meeting area.

Governor Mangal's Press Secretary, Daud Ahmadi, who will now run the new centre, has been involved in all aspects of the planning and development of the media centre. He said:

"This facility is not only for the use of the media but ordinary people and tribal elders will be able to use it."

The $83,000 refurbishment of the media centre has taken nine months and was funded and managed by the UK-led multi-national Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). It is one of a number of projects the PRT are funding to improve communications in Helmand province.