Helmand (PAN): The widely-known Helmand province--- rich in culture and tradition—occupies a significant geo-strategic importance that is laying west of Afghanistan at 60 degree altitude, and 29 degree latitude.
Having 61,829 square meters area, Helmand shares border in the east with the southern Kandahar, in north with Uruzgan, Daikundi and Gor provinces, Farah and Nimroz in its west while sharing 162 kilometers long border with the Durand Line in the east.
Lashkargah is the provincial capital of Helmand that has 671 kilometers distance from the capital Kabul. According to an informal survey, Helmand has 1.5 million populations.
The northern parts of the scenic Helmand province are surrounded by mountains while its southern parts contain desert. The weather of Helmand province is mild in winter while it becomes hot in summer.
Along with Lashkargah city, this province consists of 14 administrative units including Nadali, Marja, Garmsir, Khanshin, Disho, Nava, Greshk, Sangin, Kajaki, Musa Qala, Baghran, Noorzad, and Washir Districts. 
Helmand has a Civil Air Post and the Kabul- Herat highway goes through this province.
Rivers and Water Dams:
The Helmand River has been known with different names in different eras. In the era of Avesta, this river was called as Hitomand while in Sanskrit as Hizmand, Hitmand, and Hermand as well. During the Islamic era, it was known as Helmand, which means dignified.
Helmand River originates from central parts of Baba Mountains of the country, which has 14 kilometers length and then flow at its own sweet will quite freely into Hamon River in Iran.
However, in lower parts of Kajaki Districts, many rivers such as small rivers of Sangin, Musa Qala, Noorzad, Loy Manda, Narai Manda, and the Arghandab Rivers flow into Helmand River along the way.
Power Dams:
The renowned Kajaki Power Dam is among the important projects in Helmand Province. Once making operation its three power turbines, the Kajaki Power Dam has the capacity to generate 51 megawatts electricity. For time now, two power turbines of the Kajaki Power Dam are operational, which produce 31 megawatts electricity.
In addition to that, the Greshk Power Dam in the same province has the capacity of generating 2.5 megawatts electricity. Efforts are on to bolster the power generation capacity of the Greshk Power Dam to five megawatts.
Culture:
Long known as the cradle of culture, civilization, and historic heritage, Helmand witnessed stringent efforts with the establishment of Boust Cultural Association in 1384.
Multiple cultural associations contributed considerably to promote the established culture of the province include Helmand Literary Association, Literary Caravan, Peer Rokhan Association, Sang-i-Rokham Association, Mahmoud Tarzi Association, Hashim Sarwani Association, Nadali Association in Nadali District, Shamla and Saraj Literary Associations in Greshk District.
As many as 12,000 dedicated writers and poets contributed their literary work to enhance the culture of the province.
Annually in the month of April, poets and writers elsewhere from the country throng to Helmand to attend the literary contest known as Helmand Stormy River “Da Helmand Sapanda Sind.”
The grim picture of the rosy aspect of the Helmand culture is that the Culture Department miserably failed to establish a proper museum in Helmand, which could go a long way to promote the widely known culture and tradition of the province.
Historical artifacts:
Helmand has 50 cultural artifacts including Bust Qala, Sultan Mahmoud Palace, Arg Manai, Tanor Qala, Masjid,  Ato Qala, Sfar Qala, Boulan Qala, Mukhtar Qala, Peersoz Qala, Khwaja Bidar Qala, Shahzada Baba Qala, Spoghmai Qala, Khwaja Ali Qala, Khwaja Ghaib Qala, Amir Biland Baba Qala, Darvishan Qala, Shamlan Qala, Gresh Qala, Qalaye Sabz Qala, Qala-i-Naw, Khansheen Qala, Disho Qala, Jalj Qala, Ato Qala, Dawar Qala, Musa Qala, Fatih Khan Qala, Karam Khan Qala, Shah Husain Shrine, Sarwan Qala, Loya Adi Qala, Norzad Sara Qala, Nawzad Mirwat Qala, Huram Qalas in Baghran, Baghni Qala, Brang Ghondai, Asad Sori Shrine, Nad Ali Qala, Sarkhodoz Qala, Momin Qala, Panjaw Qala, Biobijani Qala, Shah Ismail Agha Qala, and others.
However, the tragedy is that those historical artifacts are on the verge of extinction because the concerned authorities are not willing to protect its historical nature. Like in rest of the parts of the country, the Helmand national dance known as “Attan” perform by the youth has a wide recognition.
Media Outlets:
The maiden weekly print media launched its operation in Greshk District of southern Helmand province known as Nimroz, however that media outlet halted its operation shortly. Another weekly, Halmand Magazine started functioning in 1333, which is still operational in the province.
Helmand witnessed the launch of ever first state-run Radio channel in 1362 and a Television network in 1365. An independent, radio channel known as Sabawoon was established in 2003 while other Radio channels such as Boust, Samoon, and Muska broadcasts through FM waves.
In addition, a private Sabawoon television channel started its operation in the province over the past one year.
Similarly, Pagrai magazine was published in 1384. Moreover, Shamla, Poya, Lashkargah, Safar, and Roghtia Palwashi are among independent magazines while Helmand and Police Headquarters are among the state-run magazines that are operational in the province.  Of them, the Poya, Lashkargah, and the two state-run magazines are still serving the masses of the province.
Other weekly and monthly magazines such as Sistan, Boust, Helmand, Hila, Paila, Youths, Sajistan, Kajaki, and Municipality were published only once or twice.
Moreover, Shamshad, Aryana, Lemar, Tolo, One and National Radio Television as well as the Azadi Radio, BBC, Staa, Arman, Arakozia, Aryana, Shamshad, and National Radio are among the visual and audio media networks, which cover activities of the province.
Celebrity:
Following personalities are among some leading that contributed to the rich culture and tradition of Helmand province are: Abdul Rauf Binawa, Sultan Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Afzal Khan, Mahmoud Purdil, Shah Nazar Khan Helmandval, Gul Ahmad Akhundi, Amir Hafizullah Khan Haqyar, Wakil Mohammad Khan, Dos Mohammad Khan, Taghaz Habibullah Khan, Mullah Mohammad Nasim Akhundzada, Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Akhundzada,  Mullah Amir Mohammad Achakzai, Mullah Amir Akhundzada, Mullah Sher Mohammad Akhundzada, Wakil Safar Khan, Ali Shah Muzlimyar, Zahir Sula Mal, Mohammad Sula Mal, Rayees Baghran Abdul Wahid, Mullah Salam Akhund, Mullah Qayum Zakir, and Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim.
Education:
As many as 30, 000 girls are getting education among 130,000 male students in the 341 schools elsewhere in Helmand with 204 schools are functional. A total of 2, 900 teachers are active imparting education to the students.
A Teacher Training College and a number of higher education universities offer education facilities to 558 students including 279 males with the help of 21 trainers and four of the trainers among them are females.
Formed in 1387, the Helmand University has Agriculture, Education, Engineering, and Veterinary faculties. Three more private universities including Wadi Helmand, Arakozia, and Boost having Medical, Political Science and Economic faculties are functioning in the province.
Of 1,428 students, 195 girl students are being imparted education in the three professional training institutes in Helmand while another 2,000 students get their education in 18 seminaries across the province.
Agriculture:
Helmand has large cultivable and agriculture land as compared to rest parts of the country with more than its half contains plain field and its major parts are irrigated by the Helmand River. There are a number of water channels and water canals in parts of northern Helmand, and its land is suitable for cultivation.
Helmand has wide sandy deserts while it has abundant trees and firewood. The province has immense fruit gardens of pomegranates, grapes, apricots, plums, prunes, melons, peaches, and almonds and having rich in farms of maize, bean, wheat, tomato, okra, cotton, saffron. Most of the families of the area are associated with the profession of agriculture.
The tragic aspect of the bright face of the province is that Helmand is known locally and internationally as a major poppy producing region. Most of the growers cultivate poppy and then produce opium and heroin of it.
Handy Crafts:
The province is known as hub of handy crafts being used in weaving of carpets, blankets, rings, bed-sheets that are produced from wools and animal skins.  Nomads of the area are known producing the crafts.
The Rokham Factory of Helmand:
Funded by the United States, the Rokham Factory was established during the reign of former king--- Zahir Shah in 1341--- offers job opportunities to hundreds of skilled workers. The factory is actively contributing to promote the carpentry and lithograph.
Though the Rokham stones manufactures multiple ornamental products but unfortunately, it has no international market despite the fact that there is great demand of its products in the market.
The continued three decade of strife left negative impact on the production of Rokham Factor, resulting in 50% of the factory goes to private sector while the rest 60% manpower still works in Rokham and carpentry fields.
Helmand Cotton Factory:
Established in 1342, the Helmand Cotton Factory businesses range from 25, 000 to 30, 000 tons of cotton and seeds every year that is used in producing oil, skin, soap, and other material. Its oil is mostly goes to military departments. Previously, 1, 500 manpower was working in the factory but now its working capacity has reduced considerably.
Sports:
Multiple natures of sports activities are common among the residents of Helmand with people who live in cities prefer to play volleyball, football, cricket and basketball.
Helmand has two sprawling sports stadiums where people play football, volleyball, and cricket. In addition, 13 clubs and 21 other athletic branches are also active in the province.
Only in Lashkargah, around 5,845 athletes are registered members of the sports club. A large number of players play various games but they have no proper registration.