Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Honored with Nishan-e-Pakistan
The awards honored the bravery and sacrifices of military personnel, as well as the outstanding services of civilians in fields such as health, education, literature, and economy, with the recognition of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's contributions to the country and democracy serving as a testament to his enduring legacy.
President Asif Ali Zardari granted military awards to over 750 officers and soldiers on Pakistan Day, recognizing their bravery and sacrifices in various operations, while also conferring civil awards upon 69 personalities for their outstanding services in different fields, including a posthumous Nishan-e-Pakistan to former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The awards ceremony, held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad, saw the presentation of various awards, including two Sitara-i-Basalat, 227 Tamgha-i-Basalat, and 23 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), among others. The list of awardees included officers and soldiers from different units, such as the Frontier Corps, Northern Light Infantry, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Notable recipients of civil awards included Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid, Sultan Ali Akbar Allana, and Umar Farooq Zahoor, a Dubai-based Pakistani-origin businessman who was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz for bringing significant foreign direct investment to Pakistan. Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah, Capt Khurram Agha, Ali Haider Gilani, and Javed Jabbar were also awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz for their contributions in various fields.
The conferment of these awards aimed to recognize the services and sacrifices of individuals who have made significant contributions to the country, boosting the morale of the armed forces and acknowledging the outstanding work of civilians in various fields, with the legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto being honored through the posthumous award of Nishan-e-Pakistan.