Pakistan’s top civil awards presented by President Zardari

March 24, 2025 (MLN): The country’s top civil awards were presented to 69 Pakistani and foreign nationals by President Asif Ali Zardari, honoring their outstanding contributions in various fields.

The awards were conferred at an investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the official residence of the president, to mark Pakistan’s Republic Day celebrated annually on March 23.

Recipients were honored for their exceptional services in health, education, literature, journalism, public service, research, diplomacy, and the economy.

According to APP, President Zardari posthumously awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s highest civil honor, to former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

His daughter, Sanam Bhutto, received the award on his behalf.

Bhutto, a charismatic and Western-educated leader, served as Pakistan’s fourth president (1971-1973) and later as the ninth prime minister (1973-1977) before being removed in a military coup by General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq on July 5, 1977.

He was later convicted on charges of conspiring to murder a political opponent and was executed on April 4, 1979, in Rawalpindi District Jail.

For decades, legal experts have questioned the fairness of Bhutto’s trial, both in the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court, arguing that the judicial process was flawed under military rule.

In a landmark verdict in March 2023, Pakistan’s Supreme Court acknowledged that Bhutto had not received a fair trial, as APP reported.

Several foreign nationals were also recognized for their contributions to Pakistan.

Among the awardees, Hyder Qurbanov and Dr. Christine Brunhilde received the Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam award, while Agostino Da Polenza and Professor Valeria Picacentini were honored with the Tamgha-e-Pakistan.

Additionally, Dr. Xinmin Liu was awarded the Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam.

Alongside civil honors, President Zardari also conferred military awards on officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force in recognition of their bravery and distinguished service.

The awards included 2 Sitara-i-Basalat, 227 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 82 Imtiazi Asnad, 185 Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards, 23 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), 112 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), and 133 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military). 

The civil awards are conferred annually on Pakistan Day to honour individuals for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.

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