Pajhwok reporter Barakzai wins ‘Journalist of the Year award’

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pajhwok Afghan News reporter Navid Ahmad Barakzai has won the journalist of the year award after his report ranked first among several news reports.

His report headlined “HPC’s annual food budget amounts to 7.1mnafs”  published on January 16 was ranked first.

According to the report, the High Peace Council (HPC) monthly expenses, including food for 72 people, employees’ salaries, fuel and other expenses amount to 26 million afghanis.

The 72-member council was set up back in 2011 by the then president Hamid Karzai in an attempt to make peace and reconciliation with the Taliban.

The peace body has spent a huge amount of money since its inception without achieving substantial results in terms of peace, as the war has become even deadlier.

The event to nominate the best report of the year was organised by the Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AFJC).

Several news reports published during the outgoing solar year were presented in the competition, in which Barkzai’s report was termed the best.

During the event, several other journalists from different media outlets were honoured with appreciation certificates.

AFJC head Ahmad Qureshi said the event was organised to mark the National Journalist Day.

He said the process for the best report and reporter was launched one and a half months ago and several reporters from different media outlets participated in the process.

nh/ma