The Sitara-e-Imtiaz () 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".Sitara-i-Imtiaz awards announced-2005 Dawn (newspaper), published 23 January 2014, Retrieved 11 November 2018
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 them. 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:
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence; ) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence; ) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence; ) Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence; ).
ORDER OF IMTIAZ (CIVILIAN)Nishan-e-ImtiazHilal-e-ImtiazSitara-e-ImtiazTamgha-e-Imtiaz ORDER OF IMTIAZ (MILITARY)Nishan-e-ImtiazHilal-e-ImtiazSitara-e-ImtiazTamgha-e-Imtiaz
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 Abdul Ghani Khan (Philosopher & Poet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Ghani_Khan
1980s Ghulam Abbas Miana (1987, chemistry) Farman Fatephuri (linguist, writer, poet and editor) (1985)Abul Hasanat (4 August 2013). "Transitions: Farman Fatehpuri, a researcher and linguist, passes away at 87". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Khwaja Khurshid Anwar (film music director and musicologist) (1980)Khwaja Khurshid Anwar award info on urduwire.com website Retrieved 11 November 2018 Brig. General Mian Muhammad Afzaal CGS (Shaheed) (later Lt. General) (1980) S. Muhib ur Rab (1980) Brig. Muhammad Salim (Army Medical Corps) Munier Choudhuri Abdul Ghani Khan (Philosopher & Poet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Ghani_Khan Ghulam Ali (singer) A. R. Kemal (economist) Sayed Nafees al-Hussaini (calligrapher) Muhammad Abdullah (Islamic scholar) 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 Misbah-Ud-Din Shami (1990), crystallography Salim Mehmud (1990), significant contributions to SUPARCO Charis Waddy, writer (1990) for promoting understanding of Pakistan, and particularly its women, in the West William Brown, Pakistan Army Bapsi Sidhwa (writer) (1991) Javed Miandad (cricketer) (1992) 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)Wazir Agha's award info on The News International (newspaper) Published 9 September 2010, Retrieved 11 November 2018 Abdul Majid (1999), significant contributions to SUPARCO Talib Jauhari (poet, philosopher, Muslim scholar of Shiite sect and orator ) Munir Niazi (poet) Iqtedar Hussain Bhatti (1999)
2001 Professor Doctor Allamah Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai (23rd March 2001) (Literature)
2004 Iftikhar Ahmad, PSP, (DIG Police, Multan) (Punjab) Riazul Islam (historian) M. Sultan Farooqui Kazi Abdul Shakoor Faiz Muhammad Khan Manzoor Hussain Khan (engineering/metallurgy & material education)
2005 Inzamam ul Haq (former Test captain) in 2005 Professor Dr. Tahir Shafi
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 Abdul Samad Lasi (Moondra) A. R. Kemal Brig. Muhammad Mansur Aslam Brig. Tughral Yamin Dr. Matin Ahmed Khan Bob Woolmer (Coach of Pakistan National Cricket Team)
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 Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas Saeed Akhtar (portrait painter) Engr. M.P. Gangwani (bureaucrat & social worker) Mohammad Yousuf (former Test player) in 2011 Siraj ul Haq Memon (literature and journalism)
2012 Aslam Azhar (pioneer of Pakistan Television Corporation)Investiture Ceremony: 67 to receive national awards today The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 23 March 2012, Retrieved 11 November 2018 Mohammad Qavi Khan Shaista Zaid (English newscaster - Pakistan Television Corporation))President confers civil awards on Pakistani citizens and foreign nationals The News (newspaper), Published 15 August 2012
2015 Shahid Mahmood Baig (science: genetic disorders in Pakistan) Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (education: engineering & technology) Asif Mahmood Jah Masood Ashar, (literature) Zahid Pervaiz, (public service) Col(R) Ayyaz Nasir Yasmin Tahir (arts: Compering) Umar Saif (Education: information technology) Mujahid Kamran (education) Rahat Ali Khan (music: classical & semi classical international singer) Saeed Ajmal (sports: cricket) Abdul Rashid Seyal (public service) Muhammad Parvez Masud (social services) Muhammad Younas Sheikh (social work)
2016 Source: + Hafeez ur Rehman Hoorani science (physics)Sindh, PakistanMuhammad Iqbalscience (biotechnology)Punjab, PakistanMuhammad Aslam Noor science (mathematics)Punjab, PakistanTariq Mahmood FatikengineeringPunjab, PakistanMunir AhmadengineeringPunjab, PakistanGhulam SarwarengineeringPunjab, PakistanNadeem GhaffarengineeringPunjab, PakistanBrig (R) Munawar HussainengineeringPunjab, PakistanAleem ArshadengineeringPunjab, PakistanAyaz AyubengineeringPunjab, PakistanKhalid Naseeruddin ShaikhengineeringSindh, PakistanNayyar Ali DadaengineeringPunjab, PakistanSyed Ather EnammedicineSindh, PakistanMahboob AlimedicineEice MuhammadmedicineMrs. Shahnaz Wazir AlieducationMohammad Rasul JanscienceKPK, PakistanMohsin Razaarts (music)Punjab, PakistanShahbaz MalikliteraturePunjab, PakistanMustansar Hussain TararliteraturePunjab, PakistanYussuf Shaheen DaudpotaliteratureSindh, PakistanHalil TokerliteratureTurkeyLuca Maria Olivieriservices to PakistanItalyNergis Mavalvalaservices to PakistanUSAYang Weiservices to PakistanChinaMushtaq Chhaprapublic serviceSindh, PakistanMian Ijaz ul HassanartPunjab, Pakistan
2017 Sources: 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)President Mamnoon confers civil awards on Yaum-i-Pakistan Dawn (newspaper), Published 23 March 2018, Retrieved 3 January 2019 Ashar Aziz Saira Afzal Tarar Ashtar Ausaf Ali Zahid Bashir Shahzad Roy Sarfraz Ahmed (cricketer) Shahid Afridi(cricketer) Misbah-ul-Haq (cricketer) Junaid Jamshed (singer)
2019 Sources: +Shahzad Nasimservices to Pakistan SingaporeZaid Ahmed Al-Muhaisen services to Pakistan JordanJaved Iqbal services to Pakistan Punjab, PakistanAsif Mahmood services to Pakistan USANajeeb Ullah Ghauri services to Pakistan USAPavel Bem services to Pakistan Czech RepublicSelamic Kilic services to Pakistan TurkeyBerislav Gaso services to Pakistan CroatiaZia Aftab engineering (electronics) Punjab, PakistanSafdar Moavia engineering (mechanical) Punjab, PakistanRehan Majid engineering (mechanical/aerospace) Sindh, PakistanRizwan Hussain science (chemistry) Punjab, PakistanAbdul Qayyum engineering (mechanical) Punjab, PakistanMuhammad Ilyas engineering (mining) Punjab, PakistanArshad Saleem Bhatti science (physics, nano-science & nanotechnology) Punjab, PakistanAyub Sabir education KPK, PakistanKamran Vasfy academic distinction (medicine/destist) Asrar Ahmad (Ibne Safi) (late) literature Sindh, PakistanTaqi Usmani public service Sindh, PakistanAllam Razi Jafar Haqvi public service Sindh, PakistanMuhammad Javed Afridi public service KPK, PakistanAhmedullah public service (highest tax payer) Rehan Hassan public service (highest tax payer) Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal public service
2020 Source: