JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 25, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD — The AGAHI Awards, recognized and honored 47 journalists for media excellence and ethics on Monday.
The organizers received thousands of submissions in more than 40 categories from across Pakistan.
A jury of national and international experts, development specialists, academicians, and media professionals evaluated the submissions made by journalists from print, television, radio, and online media.
Leading opinion-makers, reporters, senior journalists, policymakers, diplomats, ambassadors, academicians, and others attended the award ceremony.
Danish Ambassador Rolf Michael Hay Pereira Holmboe, Ambassador Andrulla Kaminara, the Head of Delegation of the European Union Mission to Pakistan, Former Secretaries Muzaffar Qureshi and Syed Kamal Shah along with prominent academics gave the awards to the winners.
Puruesh Chaudhary, President AGAHI and the co-founder of the AGAHI Awards in her keynote address said: “Open-data, right to information and access to resources are critical drivers of research and innovation that enable a knowledge economy. To carry this momentum in the right direction, freedom of media is one of the most important instruments for the society to prosper.”
Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer, Mishal Pakistan and co-founder of AGAHI Awards, shared his vision for creating the awards and said: “Journalism is evolving from institution centric to people-centric journalism. The AGAHI Awards is a catalyst to recognize the best knowledge creators in the society for a more informed and interconnected ecosystem, journalists winning today, show storytelling skill sets, techniques, and comprehension of issues impacting the society”.
He further said, “Journalism in Pakistan is at par with international standards in terms of fairness, quality and professional competence.”
The following journalists were adjudged winners for the “Journalist of the Year 2019,” reporting on:
Accountability: Abdul Waseem Abbasi
Agriculture Policy: Mohammad Hussain Khan
China Pakistan Relations: Zamir Assadi
Climate change: Islam Gul Afridi
Conflict: Farhat Javed Rabani
Corporate Social Responsibility: Fayaz Ahmad
Creating Shared Value: Zeeshan Anwar
Culture and Heritage: Rahim Bux Sagar/Waqar M. Khan
Data Journalism: Maimuna Raza
Democracy 2019: Abdul Rasheed
Ease of Doing Business: Mubarak Zeb Khan
Economy: Farooq Baloch
Education: Shafaq Rafi
Eliminating Hidden Hunger: Muhammad Atif Sheikh
Energy: Zulqarnain Hundal
Entrepreneurship: Saima Shabir
Environment: Umer Nangiana
Extremism and Terrorism: Umar Bacha
Foreign Policy: Ammad Khaliq
Foresight Futures: Syed Babar Ali
Fourth Industrial Revolution: Ramsha Jahangir
Global Dignity: Muhammad Ibrahim
Governance: Munawar Ali Rajput
Health: Karim Islam
Human Rights: Shumaila Jaffery
Identity: Ummara Sheraz
Inclusiveness: Shazia Hasan
Infotainment: Faisal Zafar
Innovation: Sana Jamal
Innovation Journalism: Mahrukh Sarwar
Media Ethics: Rizwana Naqvi
Out of School Children: Arshad Yousafzai
Photojournalism: Zoral Khurram Naik
Police Reforms: Adnan Aamir
Rule of Law: Ahmad Sarfaraz
SRHR: Makhdoom Muhammad Shahab Uddin
Sports: Sana Jamal
Sustainable Development Goals: Rizwan Ahmed Tariq
Video Journalism TV: Furqan Ellahi
Vocational Training and Technical Education: Ayaz Ahmad
Water Stewardship: Ikram Ullah Marwat
Welfare: Yousaf Ajab Baloch
In the People’s Choice Awards categories:
Favorite Current Anchor (Male): Ahmed Qureshi,
Favorite Current Anchor (Female): Maria Memon
Favorite News Channel of the Year for 2019: ARY News
The Founders’ Choice Awards for Investigative Journalist of the Year 2019: Aamir Saeed Abbasi from Dunya TV.
The News Manager of the Year 2019: Zafar Iqbal Ramay from the Express Group.
This year a special award was presented jointly to Mazhar Iqbal and Pervez Shaukat in recognition for their struggle and contributions to safeguard the interests and rights of the working journalists in Pakistan.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.