RMNP Presents Sadiq Press Freedom Awards to Syed Azhar Ali Rizvi and Late Syed Sarfraz Hussain Zaidi
World Press Freedom Day Roundtable in Ahmedpur East Honours Journalists for Services to Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression
Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP) presented its prestigious “RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Cash Awards” to senior journalist Syed Azhar Ali Rizvi and late journalist Syed Sarfraz Hussain Zaidi in recognition of their outstanding services for the defence of press freedom and promotion of freedom of expression under difficult and hostile conditions in South Punjab.
The award ceremony was organised on the eve of World Press Freedom Day during a special roundtable conference held at Punjab College Ahmedpur East on May 3.
This year’s RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Cash Awards were sponsored by Digital Daily Nawa-I-Ahmedpur Sharqia and Ahmedpur Union of Journalists Workers (AUJW).
The ceremony was chaired by Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, President of RMNP. Senior PML(N) leader and former Member Punjab Assembly Qazi Adnan Farid attended as keynote speaker, while Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) Punjab Makhdoom Syed Nasar Hussain Bukhari participated as guest speaker.
The event was attended by representatives of five press clubs from Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts, leaders of journalists’ unions, academics, media professionals from print, electronic and digital sectors, and advocates of press freedom.
According to the decision of the RMNP Jury, the “RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Award” was conferred posthumously upon former President of Ahmedpur Union of Journalists Workers Late Syed Sarfraz Hussain Zaidi, who also served as Bureau Chief of Daily Kainat. He remained a prominent torchbearer of press freedom in Ahmedpur East and surrounding areas of Bahawalpur district. Throughout his journalistic career, he consistently struggled for the rights and welfare of journalists and also served as Patron of Ahmedpur Press Club and AUJW.
Similarly, President of Press Club Uch Sharif Syed Azhar Ali Rizvi, Correspondent of Daily Express, received the RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Cash Award in Category-C.
The RMNP Jury acknowledged his remarkable role in establishing a Press Freedom Monitoring Committee in Uch Sharif in 2011 — a religiously sensitive region where independent journalism often faces immense pressure. He also served as Coordinator for several journalist safety and professional training initiatives organised jointly by RMNP, UNESCO and Doha Centre for Media Freedom.
These initiatives included:
- RMNP-UNESCO Journalists Safety Training Workshop (2011)
- RMNP-UNESCO Basic Journalism Training Workshop (2012)
- RMNP-DCMF Journalists Safety Training Workshop (2018)
Due to the personal efforts of Syed Azhar Ali Rizvi, journalists from Uch Sharif actively participated in these training programmes and later joined RMNP’s media development and press freedom activities. The induction and participation of female journalists from Uch Sharif in these programmes was considered a significant achievement.
The RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Award was founded in 2005 to recognise the courage, commitment and sacrifices of journalists and media organisations working for media freedom in Pakistan. The award also seeks to draw national and international attention towards the state of press freedom and freedom of expression in the country.
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https://ruralmedianetworkpk.org
Meanwhile, Digital Daily Nawa-I-Ahmedpur Sharqia presented its “Mazhar Rasheed Best Community Reporting Award” to Chief Organiser of Uch Press Club & Media Group Irshad Ahmed Shad in recognition of his contributions to grassroots journalism and community reporting.
The award shield was handed over by President of Press Club Chanigoth Shahid Bashir Chaudhry, while RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar formally presented the registration certificate of Uch Sharif Press & Media Club to its CEO Irshad Ahmed Shad. The registration certificate had been issued by Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)
Irshad Ahmed Shad receiving the SECP registration certificate from RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, and the Mazhar Rasheed Best Reporting Community Award 2026 from Shahid Bashir Chaudhry in WPFD Roundtable
Irshad Ahmed Shad receiving the SECP registration certificate from RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, and the Mazhar Rasheed Best Reporting Community Award 2026 from Shahid Bashir Chaudhry in RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Awards Ceremony.
