Civil awards Zardari approves honours for 355 Pakistanis and foreign nationals

Civil awards have been approved for 355 individuals by President Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of their contributions to science, education, medicine, arts, sports, public service and other fields.

The recipients include federal ministers, government officials, academics, doctors, journalists, writers, artists, athletes, philanthropists, security personnel, police officers, martyrs, foreign dignitaries and overseas Pakistanis.

Among the senior government figures recommended for Nishan-i-Imtiaz are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance and Revenue Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister Ahad Khan Cheema and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani.

Intelligence Bureau Director General Fuad Asadullah, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Finance Division Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Lagrial and Establishment Division Secretary Nabeel A. Awan have been recommended for Hilal-i-Imtiaz.

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The recommendations also cover serving and retired officials from the finance, revenue, police, administration, commerce and law sectors for Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

In science, Dr Shahid Mahmud, CEO and chairman of Interactive Group of Companies, has been recommended for Hilal-i-Imtiaz. Prof Dr Syed Zafar Ilyas and Prof Dr Mudassir Asrar have been proposed for Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while several other scientists have been recommended for Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

The engineering category includes Dr Muhammad Sadiq, vice chancellor of UET Peshawar, and Prof Dr Naeemul Haq Tariq of PIEAS, both nominated for Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

Among educationists, Lt Gen (retd) Moazzam Ejaz, rector of NUTECH, has been recommended for Hilal-i-Imtiaz. Several university leaders, researchers, professors and education administrators also feature among the nominees.

The medical category recognises 15 healthcare professionals for their services. The list includes Prof Dr Syed Jamal Raza, Prof Faisal Saud Dar, the late Prof Dr Tahir Shamsi and the late Dr Naseem Salahuddin. DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr Obaidullah has also been selected for Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

The arts category includes actors, comedians, musicians, singers, painters and performers. Nisho Begum, comedian Iftikhar Ahmed Thakur and Naat Khawan Syed Fasihuddin Soharwardy are among those proposed for Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while numerous other artists have been recommended for national honours.

In literature, writer and poet Asad Muhammad Khan has been recommended for Nishan-i-Imtiaz. Poets Ejaz Rahim and Muhammad Khurshidul Hasan Rizvi have been proposed for Hilal-i-Imtiaz, while several writers, poets and academics have been nominated for Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

Journalists and media professionals also feature prominently. Muhammad Saleh Zaafir and Haji Nawaz Raza have been recommended for Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while Syed Hammad Ghaznavi and photographer Muhammad Amir Khan have been proposed for PAPP. Several journalists and television anchors have also been recommended for Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

The sports category includes boxing coach Atta Mohammad Kakar and martial artist Dr Waseem A. Tai, both nominated for Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Wrestler Bashir Bhola, shooter Kishmala Talat, squash player Noor Zaman, boxer Muhammad Waseem and cricketer Sadiq Muhammad are among those proposed for PAPP.

A significant portion of the honours recognises security personnel and martyrs. Dozens of Federal Constabulary personnel have been recommended posthumously for Sitara-i-Shujaat, alongside police officers, intelligence officials and civilians recognised for gallantry and public service.

Senior law-enforcement officers, including IGP Abdul Kareem, DIG Waqas Hassan and DIG Tanveer Hussain Tunio, have also been recommended for Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

The honours also extend to foreign nationals who have contributed to Pakistan. Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has been recommended for Nishan-i-Pakistan, while Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam has been proposed posthumously for physicians Dr Jal Rattanji Patel and Dr Jal Daeboo.

Saudi, Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Chinese and other foreign personalities have also been nominated for various national awards, including Hilal-i-Pakistan, Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Pakistan and Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam.

The list further recognises overseas Pakistanis living in countries including the UAE, Japan, South Korea, the UK, the US, Saudi Arabia and Italy for their contributions to Pakistan.