KARACHI, April 4: Dawn newspaper and DawnNews channel won five National Environmental Reporting Awards (Nera) at a ceremony held at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) auditorium on Tuesday.

The News of the Year Award in Print Media was presented to Dawn in recognition of the news item on electronic waste by Bhagwandas, who won the Reporter of the Year Award for News in Print Media.

The report described how local importers took money from firms abroad to dispose of old computers and other electronic gadgets. They paid peanuts to the customs convincing them that the consignment comprised ‘junk’ and sold the machines, either in parts or whole, in the local market.

DawnNews won the TV Channel of the Year Award for Documentary Kachray ki basti by Mohammed Anwerzada and Shahid, who received the Award for Documentary in Electronic Media.

Award for News in Electronic Media was given to Sajid Gondal and Nadeem of DawnNews on their news item on waste management in the capital.

Other award recipients are: (Feature of the Year Award in Print Media), Prof Dr Irfan Ahmed Baig of Daily Jang, Quetta; (Feature Writer of the Year Award in Print Media), Khurshid Ali of Wildlife and Environment magazine (Commitment to Environment Award); Radio FM 91 (Commitment to Environment Award in Electronic Media); Masood Raza of Geo News, Karachi (News in Electronic Media Award); Shabbir Ibne Adil of the PTV News, Karachi (One of the Pioneers in Environmental Reporting in Electronic Media Award); Nargis Latif of Gulbahao (Commitment to Environment Award), and Obaid Ullah Baig (Life Time Achievement Award).

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Shakil Ahmed Dhingra, vice president of the FPCCI, the chief guest, congratulated the award winners and AFYL Productions & Services that had launched the yearly national environmental reporting awards dedicated to the World Water Day 2012.

Mr Dhingra urged the media to put more focus on environmental issues to help improve the quality of life.

According to the organisers, the programme for 2012 Nera awards will be launched in the first week of January 2013.