Skip to main content

Abdul Matin Sarfraz

Abdul Matin Sarfraz

Journalist | Toronto | English
About Abdul Matin Sarfraz

Abdul Matin Sarfraz was born and raised in Afghanistan. He has personally witnessed his country’s political conflict and had the opportunity to study the inner workings of conflicts as a social phenomenon.

Though he has been directly affected by his country’s decades of conflict, he has not given up. He has continuously struggled to get a higher education in hopes that someday he, his children and all Afghans, will have a better future.

Abdul Matin received a BA in law from the University of Takhar, Afghanistan, and a master’s in journalism from the University of Hong Kong HKU through a scholarship.

Since 2004, he worked as a reporter with national and international media covering the insurgency, human rights, and governance in Afghanistan. In 2004, he co-founded the first weekly independent newspaper (Sada-e-Watan) in Kunduz province after the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

He has worked with international media outlets such as the New York Times, Reuters, Der Spiegel, German Press Agency DPA, Vice.com and local ones such as Pajhwok

News Agency and Radio Sada-e-Azadi Shamal.

He also co-founded and worked as editor-in-chief for Rasany Independent Daily Newspaper in Kunduz Afghanistan.

From March 2023 to March 2024, Matin was a Journalism Fellow at Canada's National Observer through the Afghan Journalists-in-Residence Program in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights with funding from the Meta Journalism Project.

207 Articles

Ford floats stiff retaliation measures against tariff threats while opponents advocate for looser interprovincial trade

As U.S. tariffs threaten Ontario’s economy, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford raised the possibility of tough retaliatory measures, including banning U.S. companies from provincial contracts, and cancelling a $100-million deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink. Meanwhile, opposition leaders are pushing for stronger interprovincial trade, and a united "Team Canada" approach as a long-term solution.

Gas still featured in Ford's energy efficiency incentives

Energy experts and advocates are welcoming the Ford government’s huge new energy efficiency initiative but question its partnership with Enbridge Gas, warning the initiative may contain measures to keep Ontarians on fossil fuels. A key part of the program funds the switch to heat pumps, which can save energy costs. But the program doesn’t specify which kind — and some, known as hybrid heat pumps, rely on gas to boost their power.

Ontario announces billions in investment for new energy efficiency programs

Canada’s largest energy efficiency initiative was announced by Ontario, where a $10.9-billion investment will help families and businesses lower costs by retrofitting their homes. The Ontario government’s new Home Renovation Savings Program will offer rebates of up to 30 per cent for energy efficiency upgrades, including windows, doors, insulation, heat pumps, smart thermostats, rooftop solar panels and battery storage. Money for the retrofits will be rolled out over the next 12 years.