Islamabad, March 23, 2025: In a prestigious ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Pakistan’s highest civil honors on distinguished individuals in recognition of their remarkable contributions across various fields.
A significant moment in the ceremony was the posthumous awarding of the Nishan-e-Pakistan to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). His daughter, Sanam Bhutto, accepted the honor on his behalf, marking a historic tribute to his legacy.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, among others.
Several individuals were recognized for their outstanding achievements and service to Pakistan:
- Air Marshal (Retd.) Raja Shahid Hamid was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz for his exemplary military service.
- Sultan Ali Akbar Allana received the Nishan-e-Khidmat for his impactful contributions to the financial sector.
- The Hilal-e-Imtiaz was awarded to:
- Javed Jabbar for his contributions to literature.
- Allah Rakhi Shaheed for her service to education.
- Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah for excellence in civil service.
- Syed Ali Haider Gilani for public service.
- Hussain Dawood for philanthropy.
- Sadia Rashid for achievements in education.
Other distinguished recipients included Khawaja Anwar Majeed for social work, Professor Dr. Shehryar and Dr. Zaryab for medical advancements, and Amir Hafeez Ibrahim for contributions to science and IT.
Renowned social worker Jimmy Engineer was also honored for his outstanding community service, while Umar Farooq was recognized for his dedicated public service.
The ceremony celebrated the extraordinary achievements of these individuals, reflecting Pakistan’s commitment to honoring excellence and national service.