Pakistan celebrated its finest on May 14, 2026, as Pakistanis and foreign nationals were honoured with civil awards for services rendered to the country in various fields, including arts, literature, and sports.
The main ceremony was held in Islamabad, where President Asif Ali Zardari presented the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, the country’s third-highest civil honour, to writers Atta ul Haq Qasmi and Irfan ul Haq Siddiqui for their contributions to literature. Poet Zehra Nigah and playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed were recognised with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
Among the most talked-about recipients was legendary singer Hadiqa Kiani, who received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for her work in music. This honour adds another milestone to her decorated career. Kiani herself described the recognition as deeply humbling, noting that it came two decades after she first received the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. The award she was given in 2006 was for her extraordinary contributions to Pakistani music. She dedicated the honour to her son, her listeners, supporters, and family, and wore red to the ceremony, just as she had done 20 years ago.
Actors Rashid Waheed Khawaja and Zahid Ahmed received the President’s Pride of Performance Award, while cricket legend Shahid Afridi and mountaineer Shehroz Kashif were conferred the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for their services to sports.
In Peshawar, former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Sana Mir was presented the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. A separate ceremony in Karachi saw actors Fazila Qazi and Savera Nadeem conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for their acting careers.
The awards served as a proud reminder of Pakistan’s rich talent across music, drama, literature, and sport.
