On August 14, several senior Pakistani journalists were conferred national civil awards by President Asif Ali Zardari at a high-profile ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr on the occasion of the country’s 78th Independence Day. Those honored with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz for their services to journalism and media included Hamid Mir, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Javed Chaudhry, Mansoor Ali Khan, Salim Safi, Wasim Badami, Aniqa Nisar, Amir Ilyas Rana, Muneeb Farooq, and Nadeem Malik.

The ceremony also saw Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar decorated with the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his role in public service and communication.

According to official figures, a total of 129 individuals from civil and military backgrounds were recognized for their services during Marka-e-Haq and beyond. The honors included four Tamgha-i-Jurrat, 24 Sitara-e-Basalat, 43 Tamgha-i-Basalat, seven Tamgha-i-Shujat, eight Sitara-i-Imtiaz and 43 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Zardari praised the award recipients for their dedication, sacrifices and contributions in diverse fields, noting that they stood as symbols of service and resilience for the nation. The investiture was attended by senior civil and military officials, government representatives and families of the awardees.