Sitara-i-Imtiaz

The Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Urdu: ستارہِ امتیاز, lit. 'Star of Excellence') also spelled as Sitara-i-Imtiaz, is the third-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes individuals who have made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavours".

This award is not limited to the citizens of Pakistan, and it can also be awarded to foreign citizens based on their achievements and services done to the State of Pakistan (see Władysław Turowicz). While, it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military officers of the Pakistan Defence Forces worn on their uniform for recognition of their services to the country. Like other awards, it is a highly restricted and prestigious award only given to those who have done great services to the country. It is one of the most distinguished civil decorations to the civilians who have made outstanding contribution in their respected fields such as literature, arts, sports, medicine, or science, which prompted the recognition of the country on international level.

It is given to a person who has accomplished duty beyond what is assigned to him/her. To receive this honour, the individuals are expected to show eminence and be outstanding in providing excellent service in a significant field of activity beyond what they are assigned to.

For officers in the military, it is given after distinguished service, and is also the highest medal that can be awarded to those at the rank of Brigadier-General or Major-General in the (Army), Air-Commodores or Air Vice-Marshals in the (Air Force) and Commodore or Rear-Admiral in the (Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines).

The Parliament's Committee for Award and Recognition Services for State of Pakistan, selects the names of individuals and sends final report to the Prime minister of Pakistan. On advice of the Prime minister, the President organizes a colourful ceremony that is telecast and broadcast by the Pakistan Television Corporation. The award is usually given to individuals one by one and not in groups because the whole purpose of the award is to assess the recipient's individual capabilities in par excellence.

The award is a disc of golden Jasminum which stands between two and five points of the star, and is also of pure gold. The star is in the form of a five pointed star, with additional bright coloured Jasminum filling in space between points of the star. In the middle of the star, a well polished green emerald circumference fills the inside of the golden star. A smaller golden star is situated in the middle of the emerald field.

A special grade of the medal/award has larger execution of the same medal design worn as a star on the left chest. In addition, it is worn as a sash on the right shoulder, with its rosette (yellow with white (for civilians) or/ green (for military officers only) with white and yellow edge, bearing the central disc of the medal at its centre, resting on the left hip.

At the formal ceremony, both medals can be worn at the same time depending upon the individual's achievements. The medal is suspended on a ribbon, dark green colour with a light yellow and white central stripe with white edge stripes.

Grades of the Order of Imtiaz

This award is the 3rd Grade in the Order of Imtiaz (Excellence). The four Grades in the Order of Imtiaz are:

1. Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence; Urdu: نشانِ امتیاز)
2. Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence; Urdu: ہلالِ امتیاز)
3. Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence; Urdu: ستارہ امتیاز)
4. Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence; Urdu: تمغہِ امتیاز).

Service Ribbon Insignia

The ribbon for the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) is:

• Yellow with a white centre band and a narrow Pakistan Green stripe in the middle.

The ribbon for the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) is:

• White edges with Pakistan Green band on each side, two equal white stripes separated by an equal sized Pakistan Green stripe in the middle.

Recipients of Sitara-e-Imtiaz

1950s

• Lieutenant Colonel Shaukat Syed (1959)

1960s

• Muhammad Enamul Huq (Bangladesh) (1962)
• Ahmad Hasan Dani (archaeologist, historian, and linguist)

1970s

1980s

• Dr. Ghulam Abbas Miana (1987, Chemistry)
• Farman Fatephuri (Linguist, Writer, Poet and Editor) (1985)
• Khwaja Khurshid Anwar (film music director and musicologist) (1980)
• Brig. General Mian Muhammad Afzaal CGS (Shaheed) (later Lt. General) (1980)
• Professor S. Muhib ur Rab (1980)
• Brig. Muhammad Salim (Army Medical Corps)
• Munier Choudhuri
• Ghulam Ali (Singer)
• A. R. Kemal (Economist)
• Sayed Nafees al-Hussaini (Calligrapher)
• Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi ( Islamic Scholar )
• Maulana Shamsul Haq Afghani (1980)
• Ayub Khan Ommaya (1981)
• A.Q Mughal
• Israr Ahmed (Islamic scholar & philosopher )1981

1990s

• Prof. Misbah-Ud-Din Shami (1990), Crystallography
• Salim Mehmud (1990), significant contributions to SUPARCO
• William Brown, Pakistan Army
• Jansher Khan (squash player) (1993)
• Shamsul-hasan Shams Barelvi (1995)
• Group Capt Dr Muhammad Aslam Butt PAF (1997) For significant contribution to Science & Engineering Education).
• Wazir Agha (writer)
• Abdul Majid (1999), significant contributions to SUPARCO
• Talib Jauhari ( poet, philosopher, Muslim scholar of Shiite sect and orator )
• Munir Niazi (Poet)
• Professor Iqtedar Hussain Bhatti (1999)

2001

2002

2003

2004

• Mr Iftikhar Ahmad, PSP, (DIG Police, Multan) (Punjab)
• Riazul Islam (Historian)
• Professor M. Sultan Farooqui
• Professor Kazi Abdul Shakoor
• Professor Faiz Muhammad Khan
• Professor Dr. Manzoor Hussain Khan (Engineering/Metallurgy & Material Education)

2005

• Inzamam ul Haq (Former Test Captain) in 2005

2006

• Liaquat H. Merchant (Banking Litigation, Services rendered in health and education sectors)
• Mohammad Hussain Dadabhoy (2006)
• Dr Faiz Mohammad Khan (2006)
• Sultan Ali Allana (2006)

2007

• A. R. Kemal
• Brig. Muhammad Mansur Aslam

2008

• Azhar Mahmood (Federal Investigation Agency, Director FIA).

2009

• Brig. Ali Nasre Alam
• Brig Sohail Ahmed Qureshi
• Javed Ahmed Ghamidi
• Ayesha Jalal
• Asad Umar

2010

• Rahimullah Yusufzai
• Muhammad Amjad Saqib

2011

• Rao Maaz Khalid (Car Enthusiast)
• Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas
• Saeed Akhtar (Portrait Painter)
• Dr.Engr.M.P.Gangwani (Bureaucrat & Social Worker)
• Mohammad Yousuf (Former Test Player) in 2011

2012

• Aslam Azhar (pioneer of Pakistan Television Corporation)
• Mohammad Qavi Khan
• Shaista Zaid (English newscaster - Pakistan Television Corporation))

2015

• Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (Education: Engineering & Technology)
• Asif Mahmood Jah
• Masood Ashar, (Literature)
• Zahid Pervaiz, (Public Service)
• Col(R) Ayyaz Nasir

2016

2017

• Raees Ahmed (arts, sitar)
• Yang Wei (China)
• Mustansar Hussain Tarar (travelogue writer, novelist)
• Hafeez-ur-Rehman Hoorani (Physics)
• Muhammad Iqbal (Biotechnology)
• Muhammad Aslam Noor (Mathematics)
• Tariq Mahmood Fatik (Engineering)
• Munir Ahmad (Engineering)
• Ghulam Sarwar (Engineering)
• Nadeem Ghaffar (Engineering)
• Brig (R) Munawar Hussain (Engineering)
• Aleem Arshad (Engineering)
• Ayaz Ayub (Engineering)
• Khalid Naseeruddin Shaikh (Engineering)
• Nayyar Ali Dada (Engineering)
• Syed Ather Enam (Medicine)
• Dr Mahboob Ali (Medicine)
• Eice Muhammad (Medicine)
• Mrs. Shahnaz Wazir Ali (Education)
• Mohammad Rasul Jan (Science)

2018

• Zia Chishti (entrepreneur)
• Ashar Aziz
• Saira Afzal Tarar
• Ashtar Ausaf Ali
• Zahid Bashir
• Shahzad Roy
• Sarfraz Ahmed (cricketer)
• Shahid Afridi
• Misbah-ul-Haq

2019

2020

2021

2023

Babar Azam (Cricket)

References