President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday conferred Pakistan’s civil awards on prominent Pakistanis and foreign nationals in recognition of their outstanding services in various fields, including politics, literature, sports, education, diplomacy, public service and national defence.

The investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr and attended by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, federal ministers, Chairman Senate, parliamentarians, diplomats, members of civil society, media representatives and a large number of guests.

Late politician Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and late senator and writer Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui were posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz for their services to the country.

Writer and humourist Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz for his literary contributions, while playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for services to literature.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his contributions to sports.

Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari and Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali were awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for their contributions to the energy sector and public service.

Mountaineer Shehroze Kashif, senior police officer Moazzam Jah Ansari, engineer Jamaluddin Ahmed, Mirza Rizwan Baig, Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Dr Ameer Muhammad, Professor Dr Ikramul Haq, Zahra Majid Ali, Ehteshamul Haq and Azeezuddin were also among the recipients of the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.

Bahraini diplomat Mohammad Ebrahim Mohammad Abdul Qadir was honoured for diplomatic services.

Late Senator Taj Haider received the Sitara-e-Pakistan posthumously.

A large number of military personnel, police officials and civilians who embraced martyrdom while defending the country were awarded gallantry honours posthumously.

Among those awarded the Hilal-e-Shujaat were Shah Wali Khan Shaheed, ASI Muhammad Ejaz Khan Shaheed, SI Laiq Zada Shaheed, Constable Alam Zeb Shaheed, Constable Muhammad Ejaz Shaheed, Waseem Ahmed Khan Shaheed and Sepoy Azhar Mehmood Shaheed.

Recipients of Sitara-e-Shujaat included Javed Ullah Khan Mehsood, Nawab Ali Shaheed, Senator Hidayatullah Shaheed, ASI Muhammad Akram Shaheed, SI Taj Meer Shah Shaheed, Constable Abdullah Shaheed, Constable Samand Khan Shaheed, Constable Zameel Badshah Shaheed, Abdul Hameed Shaheed, Constable Muhammad Siraj Shaheed, Constable Muhammad Javed Shaheed, Hafeezullah Shaheed, Inspector Shariq Rizwan Shaheed, Jawad Qamar Shaheed, Naek Gulzar Ali Shaheed, Sepoy Uzair Khan Shaheed, Sepoy Khatab ul Rehman Shaheed, Sepoy Gul Umarzai Shaheed, Sepoy Abdul Sameed Shaheed, Sepoy Imran Khan Shaheed, Naeb Subedar Muhammad Jan Shaheed, Lance Naek Syed ur Rehman Shaheed, Sepoy Hazratullah Shaheed, Sepoy Khunzada Shaheed, Sepoy Mushtaq Ahmed Shaheed, Sepoy Baseerullah Shaheed, Sepoy Mehtab ur Rehman Shaheed, Sepoy Sher Rehman Shaheed, Sepoy Fazal Kareem Shaheed and Sepoy Syed Amin Shaheed.

Other recipients of Sitara-e-Shujaat included Sepoy Muhammad Yousaf Shaheed, Constable Muhammad Shehryar Shaheed, Faisal Ismail Shaheed, Abdul Wakeel Shaheed, Fazal Manan Shaheed, ASI Noor Hakeem Shaheed, Constable Zahidullah Shaheed and Liaqat Ali Shaheed.

The Sitara-e-Imtiaz was awarded to several personalities for distinguished services, including Secretary Interior Captain (retd) Muhammad Agha, Dr Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam, Nabeel Munir, Iftikhar Amjad, Lt (retd) Sohail Ashraf, Dr Naseem Faraz, Javed Akbar Riaz, Brigadier Faisal Shaukat Jehangiri, Ahmed Abdul Moeez Khawaja, Irfan Ahsan, Hamza Tabani, Dr Arshad Rehan, late Munir Ahmed Chaudhry, Muhammad Yaseen Khan, Arshad Wali Muhammad, Ahmed Raza, Professor Sarwar Muhammad Khawaja, Hamra Abbas, late Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah, Nadeem Hussain and Nadeem Mehboob.

Rashid Waheed Khawaja and Zahid Ahmed received the Pride of Performance award, while Muhammad Saeed Sheikh was awarded Sitara-e-Khidmat and Shahid Hussain received Tamgha-e-Shujaat.

Those awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz included IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon Javaid Akhtar Odhoo, Nadir Shafee Dar, Dr Muhammad Shahbaz Chaudhry, Muhammad Kashif Ashfaq, Ch Amanat Hussain Mahr, Dr Farhat Akhtar Raja, Dr Khurum Hayat Khan, Dr Muhammad Shabi Ahmed, Dr Zeeshan Ali, Syed Zahid Hussain Shah, Raja Suleman Raza, Sajid Abbas, Naveed Anwar Chaudhry, Abdul Waheed Khan, Abdul Wahab Sheikh, Waqas ul Hassan, Shazia Sikandar Rana, Mohsin Nawaz, Muhammad Arsalan Zafar, Abdul Muhai Shah, Dr Rao Kamran Ali, Dr Imran Syed, Dr Muhammad Naeem Malik, Nasir Aftab, Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri, Aamir Javed Sheikh, Dr Anam Fatema, Captain (retd) Qazi Ali Raza, Captain (retd) Chaudhry Awais Afzal, Sahibzada Muhammad Yousuf, Waseem Ahmed, Professor Muhammad Tayyeb, SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Nadia Jehangir Seth and Zia ul Hassan Lanjar.