March 18, 2019
Kabul: Naweed Ahmad Barakzai, a journalist from Pajhwok Afghan News, has been awarded the 2019 Afghanistan Journalist of the Year title after competing against numerous other national journalists.
The Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AFJC) initiated the Afghanistan Journalists of the Year award in 2014 to recognize the professionalism of Afghan journalists and encourage them to maintain internationally accepted journalism standards in their coverage of events within Afghanistan.
Naweed Barakzai was selected as the standout journalist of the year by the judging committee. He received the award at the National Journalist's Day ceremony on Monday, March 18. The event, held at the Government Media and Information Center (GIMIC) in Kabul, saw the attendance of notable figures such as Second Vice President Sarwar Danish, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Sayed Fazel Sancharaki the UN envoy in Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto, representatives from the UK and German embassies, as well as delegates from the US, Turkey, NATO, media support groups, and journalists from various industries.
Journalists and media organizations across Afghanistan were invited to submit one story per person for the competition. The contest attracted numerous entries from all over the country, impressing the judges with the depth of experience displayed in the winning entries.
Out of the 70 participants, 11 journalists from television, radio, print, and online media were recognized for their exceptional work in producing compelling stories in 2019. Naweed Ahmad Barakzai received the highest score from the jury for his report on the misuse of the High Peace Council budget.
Barakzai's report revealed that the peace body has spent a significant amount of money since its establishment but has failed to achieve substantial results in terms of peace, as the war has only intensified. The report highlights that the monthly expenses of the High Peace Council (HPC), including food for 72 people, employee salaries, fuel, and other expenses, amount to 26 million Afghanis. The HPC was created in 2011 by former President Hamid Karzai to facilitate peace and reconciliation with the Taliban.
Despite the extravagant spending, the HPC's performance remains unsatisfactory. Over 300 million Afghanis are spent annually on facilities for the peace council.
Recognizing the vital role journalists play in war-torn Afghanistan, especially in the post-Taliban era, Ahmad Quraishi, the director of the Afghanistan Journalists Centre, stated, "Celebrating National Journalist's Day in a country affected by war is a significant step towards acknowledging the efforts and dedication of reporters who put their lives at risk while covering events and reporting on matters that can impact people's lives."
Initiated by the AFJC, March 18th (Solar year: Hoot 27th) was designated as National Journalist's Day and was celebrated in Kabul and other cities in Afghanistan to recognize the crucial role of journalists in strengthening a free press and promoting the flow of fair, impartial, and balanced information – an essential element of a democratic society.