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". 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 An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

), Air-Commodores or

Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometime ...

s in the (

Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...

) and Commodore or

Rear-Admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

in the (

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...

, and

Marines Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included Raid (military), raiding ashor ...

). The

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

'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 The prime minister of Pakistan (, Roman Urdu, romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Cabinet of Pakistan, cabinet, desp ...

. On advice of the Prime minister, the President organizes a colourful ceremony that is telecast and broadcast by the

Pakistan Television Corporation Pakistan Television Corporation (; reporting name: PTV); also known as ''Pakistan Television'', is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster founded by the Government of Pakistan, operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. I ...

. 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 The Nishan-e-Imtiaz (; ) is one of the state organized Civil decorations of Pakistan, civil decorations of Pakistan. It is awarded for achievements towards world recognition for Pakistan or outstanding service for the country. However, the awa ...

'' (Order of Excellence; ) # '' Hilal-e-Imtiaz'' (Crescent of Excellence; ) # ''Sitara-e-Imtiaz'' (Star of Excellence; ) # '' Tamgha-e-Imtiaz'' (Medal of Excellence; ).

Service Ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...
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 Ahmad Hassan Dani (Urdu: احمد حسن دانی) FRAS, SI, HI (20 June 1920 – 26 January 2009) was a Pakistani archaeologist, historian, and linguist. He was among the foremost authorities on Central Asian and South Asian archaeology ...

(archaeologist, historian, and linguist)

1970s

1980s

* Ghulam Abbas Miana (1987, chemistry) * Farman Fatephuri (linguist, writer, poet and editor) (1985) *

Khwaja Khurshid Anwar Khwaja Khurshid Anwar (21 March 1912 − 30 October 1984) was a Pakistani filmmaker, writer, director and music composer who earned recognition in both India and Pakistan. He is credited as being one of the most original and inventive music dir ...

(film music director and musicologist) (1980) * Brig. General Mian Muhammad Afzaal CGS (Shaheed) (later Lt. General) (1980) * 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 Israr Ahmad (26 April 1932 – 14 April 2010) was a Pakistani Ulama, Islamic scholar, orator and Islamic theologian, theologian. He developed a following in Pakistan and the rest of South Asia but also among some Islam in South Asia, South Asi ...

(Islamic scholar & philosopher )1981

1990s

* Misbah-Ud-Din Shami (1990),

crystallography Crystallography is the branch of science devoted to the study of molecular and crystalline structure and properties. The word ''crystallography'' is derived from the Ancient Greek word (; "clear ice, rock-crystal"), and (; "to write"). In J ...

* 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) * 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 ʻAbd al-Majīd (ALA-LC romanization of , ), also spelled as Abd ul Majid, Abd ul-Majid, Abd ol Majid, Abd ol-Majid, and Abdolmajid, is a Muslim male given name and, in modern usage, surname. It is built from the Arabic words ''Abd (Arabic), ʻabd'' ...

(1999), significant contributions to SUPARCO * Talib Jauhari ( poet, philosopher, Muslim scholar of Shiite sect and orator ) *

Munir Niazi Munir Niazi (Punjabi language, Punjabi, Urdu: ;09 April 1923 – 26 December 2006), was a Pakistani poet. He mostly wrote in the Punjabi language, Punjabi and Urdu languages and also wrote for newspapers, magazines and radio. In 1960, he es ...

(poet) * Iqtedar Hussain Bhatti (1999)

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 Syed Inzamam-ul-Haq SI (; born 3 March 1970), also known as Inzi, is a former Pakistan cricketer and captain of Pakistan national cricket team. He is regarded as one of the greatest players Pakistan has produced and one of the best middle-orde ...

(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 * Brig. Tughral Yamin

2008

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

2009

* Brig. Ali Nasre Alam * Brig Sohail Ahmed Qureshi *

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi Javed Ahmad Ghamidi (born 7 April 1952) is a Pakistani Islamic scholar and philosopher who is the founder of Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences and its sister organisation ''Danish Sara''. He is regarded as one of the most influential and ...

* Ayesha Jalal * Asad Umar

2010

* Rahimullah Yusufzai * Muhammad Amjad Saqib

2011

* Rao Maaz Khalid (car enthusiast) * 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

) * Mohammad Qavi Khan * Shaista Zaid (English newscaster - Pakistan Television Corporation))

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

2017

* Raees Ahmed (arts, sitar) * Yang Wei (China) *

Mustansar Hussain Tarar Mustansar Hussain Tarar (; ) Sitara-i-Imtiaz, S.I. (born 1 March 1939) is a Pakistani author, travel enthusiast, mountaineer, writer, novelist, columnist, TV host and former actor. Early life Mustansar Hussain Tarar was born in Jokalian on 1 M ...

(travelogue writer, novelist) * Hafeez-ur-Rehman Hoorani (

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

) * Muhammad Iqbal (

biotechnology Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and Engineering Science, engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms and parts thereof for products and services. Specialists ...

) * Muhammad Aslam Noor (

mathematics Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

) *Tariq Mahmood Fatik (

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

) *Munir Ahmad (

) *Ghulam Sarwar (

) *Nadeem Ghaffar (

) *Brig (R) Munawar Hussain (

) *Aleem Arshad (

) *Ayaz Ayub (

) *Khalid Naseeruddin Shaikh (

) *Nayyar Ali Dada (

) *Syed Ather Enam (

medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

) *Dr Mahboob Ali (

) *Eice Muhammad (

) *Mrs. Shahnaz Wazir Ali (

education Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education als ...

) * Mohammad Rasul Jan (

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

)

2018

Zia Chishti Muhammad Ziaullah Khan Chishti (; born 1971) is a Pakistani-American investor and business executive. He is the founder of Afiniti, TRG Pakistan, TRG Global, and co-founder of Align Technology. After starting his career as a Morgan Stanley inves ...

(entrepreneur) * Ashar Aziz * Saira Afzal Tarar * Ashtar Ausaf Ali * Zahid Bashir * Shahzad Roy * Sarfraz Ahmed (cricketer) *

Shahid Afridi Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (, ; born 1 March 197is a Pakistani former cricketer and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. An all-rounder, Afridi was a right-handed leg spinner and a right-handed batsman. Afridi made ...

Misbah-ul-Haq Misbah-ul-Haq Pride of Performance, PP Sitara-e-Imtiaz, SI (; born 28 May 1974) is a former Pakistani cricket coach and former international cricketer. Misbah captained Pakistan national cricket team, Pakistan in all formats and is former head ...

2019

2020

2021

2023

* Babar Azam Pakistani cricketer * Brig (R) Nasir Khan Jadoon

2025

* Asif Bashir Pakistani rescue hero * Muhammad Afzal Tahir (military) * Imtiaz Hussain (highest tax payer 2025) * Colonel Muhammad Sajjad Anwar Bajwa * Prof. Dr Zia Ul Haq

References

{{Military of Pakistan Civil awards and decorations of Pakistan Military awards and decorations of Pakistan Awards established in 1957 1957 establishments in Pakistan