National awards announced for 104 Pakistanis, foreigners on Independence Day

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday announced the conferment of national awards on 104 Pakistanis and foreigners, in recognition of their services, excellence and sacrifices in their respective fields.

According to APP, the awards were announced on Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day and will be presented to the awardees at an investiture ceremony on March 23, 2025.

The president conferred awards in the fields of science and engineering, education, medicine, arts, literature, sports, social services, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, taxpayers and exporters, public services, gallantry, and services to Pakistan.

The Nishan-i-Pakistan was conferred on former president and prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in recognition of his public services.

In the sports category, Zardari announced the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for Arshad Nadeem, who won Pakistan their first Olympic medal in 32 years at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Sitara-i-Imtiaz for Murad Sadpara

President Zardari also announced the conferment of Sitara-i-Imtiaz posthumously on Murad Sadpara. The renowned climber succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning at Gilgit-Baltistan’s Broad Peak.

Other awardees for sports include Maqsood Ahmed, Amad Shakeel Butt, Rehman Ishtiaq, Mir Nadir Khan Magsi, who will all receive the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, while Amir Ishfaq will be conferred with the Presidential Pride of Performance award.

In recognition of their excellence in the field of science, the president conferred the Hilal-i-imtiaz on Amir Hafeez Ibrahim, Sitara-i-Imtiaz on Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali and Sardar Muhammad Aftab Ahmed Khan; and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on Dr Sara Qureshi, Dr Rafiuddin and Professor Dr Usman Qamar.