ISLAMABAD: In a formal ceremony at the Presidency, President Asif Ali Zardari bestowed civil awards upon numerous individuals for their exceptional contributions across various sectors. The event highlighted achievements in energy, literature, sports, public service, and bravery.
Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his successful reforms in the energy sector. In a significant development, the prestigious Nishan-e-Imtiaz was awarded posthumously to Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan for his dedication to democracy, with his son Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad Khan accepting the honor on his behalf.
Similarly, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz was awarded posthumously to Iftikhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui for his contributions to literature and public service; his son Imran Khawar Siddiqui received the award. Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi was also honored with the Nishan-e-Imtiaz for distinguished literary services, represented by his son Muhammad Yaser Pirzada.
Several martyrs were recognized with the Hilal-e-Shujaat for their sacrifices, including soldier Shah Wali Khan, soldier Azhar Mehmood, ASI Ijaz Khan, Sub-Inspector Laik Zada, Constable Alam Zeb, and Constable Muhammad Ijaz. Advisor on Privatization Muhammad Ali was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his contributions to energy and public administration.
Muazzam Jan Ansari received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his public service efforts, while Engineer Jamal-ud-Din Ahmed was honored for his work in engineering and the electricity sector. Mirza Rizwan Baig was recognized with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his achievements in science and technology, and Muhammad Yousuf Khan received the same award for his services in space science and technology.
Amir Muhammad and Professor Iqram-ul-Haq were also recipients of the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, acknowledged for their contributions in agriculture and education, respectively. Writers Asghar Nadeem Syed and Zahra Majid Ali were honored for their literary accomplishments.
Notably, cricketer Shahid Khan Afridi was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his exceptional services in sports, alongside mountaineer Shehroze Kashif, who was recognized for his notable achievements. Posthumous honors were given to Malik Muhammad Atta Khan for his role in equestrian sports and Senator Taj Haider for his work in politics and mathematics.
Journalist Ehtisham-ul-Haq received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his contributions to journalism, while Aziz-ud-Din Bolani was acknowledged for his efforts in tourism and hospitality. The Ambassador of Bahrain, Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Abdul Qadir, was awarded the Sitara-e-Pakistan for strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bahrain.
Several individuals, including Javedullah Khan Mehsud, Nawab Ali (Shaheed), and Senator Hidayatullah (Shaheed), were honored with the Sitara-e-Shujaat for their bravery and public service. Additionally, numerous police officers and constables received posthumous Sitara-e-Shujaat awards in recognition of their exceptional courage and sacrifices for the nation.
