The Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Urdu: ستارۂ امتياز); transl. Star of Excellence, also spelled as Sitara-e-Imtiaz), is the third-highest (in the hierarchy of "Sitara")[1] 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".[2]
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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.
Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Brig Muhammad Salim Aneasthetist and 1st Pain Specialist of Pakistan (Army Medical Corps)
Munir Chowdhori
- Ghulam Ali[3][circular reference] (Singer)
- Dr. A. R. Kemal[4][5] (Economist)[6]
- Sayed Nafees al-Hussaini (Calligrapher)
- Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi ( Islamic Scholar )
- Maulana Shamsul Haq Afghani (1980)
- Ayub Khan Ommaya (1981)
- A.Q Mughal[7][8]
- Jansher Khan (squash player) (1993)[9]
- Shamsul-hasan Shams Barelvi (1995)
- Wazir Agha (writer)[10]
- Khwaja Khurshid Anwar (film music director and musicologist) (1980)[11]
- Prof. Misbah-Ud-Din Shami (1990), Crystallography[12]
- Salim Mehmud (1990), significant contributions to SUPARCO
- Abdul Majid (1999), significant contributions to SUPARCO
- Talib Jauhari ( poet, philosopher, Muslim scholar of Shiite sect and orator )[13]
- Munir Niazi (Poet)
- Mr Iftikhar Ahmad, PSP, (DIG Police, Multan) (Punjab) (2004)
2006
- Dr Faiz Mohammad Khan (2006)[14]
- Sultan Ali Allana (2006)[14]
2007
2008
- Azhar Mahmood (Federal Investigation Agency)
2009
- Brig. Ali Nasre Alam[15]
- Brig Sohail Ahmed Qureshi
2010
2011
- Rao Maaz Khalid (Car Enthusiast)
- Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas
2012
- Aslam Azhar (pioneer of Pakistan Television Corporation)[17]
- Mohammad Qavi Khan
- Shaista Zaid (English News Caster - Pakistan Television Corporation))[18]
2015
- Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (Education: Engineering & Technology)
- Dr.Asif Mahmood Jah
- Masood Ashar, (Literature)
2016
2017[19][20][21][22]
- 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)
- Prof. Dr. Syed Ather Enam (Medicine)
- Dr Mahboob Ali (Medicine)
- Dr. Eice Muhammad (Medicine)
- Mrs. Shahnaz Wazir Ali (Education)
- Mohammad Rasul Jan (Science)
2018
- Zia Chishti (entrepreneur)[23]
- Ashar Aziz
- Saira Afzal Tarar
- Ashtar Ausaf Ali
- Zahid Bashir
- Shahzad Roy
- Sarfraz Ahmed (cricketer)
- Shahid Afridi
2019
- Syed Abu Ahmad Akif (Civil Servant and Writer)
- Aqeel Karim Dhedhi (Sindh)
- Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi (singer)
- Babra Sharif (Punjab)
- Burhan Aziez
- Iftikhar Thakur (Punjab)[24]
- Imtiaz Ahmed
- Iqbal Ali Lakhani
- Khawaja Masood Akhtar
- Kaleemullah Lashari (Sindh)
- Mohammad Arshad (Punjab)
- Munir Hussain (posthumous) (Punjab)
- Syed Razi Jafar Naqvi
- Muhammad Taqi Usmani (public service).[25]
- Sajjad Ali (Sindh)
- Yasir Shah (KP)
- Dr. Shahid Ahmed Sami (Medicine)
2020
- Ruth Lewis (Catholic nun)[26]
2021
- Dr. Farhan Saif
- Adnan Asdar Ali (Philanthrophy) [27][28]
- Sultana Siddiqui
- Bushra Ansari[29]
- Talat Hussain[29]
- Sabina Mehtab Khatri<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-14
- Brig. Arshad Iqbal(Station Commander Mangla Cantt)
- Brig. Shamsher Ali (JAG
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