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President confers civil, military awards
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday conferred civil and military awards on outstanding individuals at an investiture ceremony held in connection with Pakistan Day, at Aiwan-e-Sadr here.Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, federal ministers, parliamentarians, Services Chiefs, Islamabad-based diplomats and prominent citizens attended the ceremony.
President Zardari decorated both civil and military personnel, including the foreign nationals for their services to Pakistan.
Overall 190 individuals were conferred awards on Pakistan Day, out of which the President himself gave away 75 civil and 56 military awards in different categories, at the special ceremony. The rest of awards were given at separate ceremonies held at provincial headquarters.
President Zardari decorated Secretary General Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu with Hilal-i-Pakistan, at the ceremony.
Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is the only recipient of Pakistan's highest civilian award Nishan-i-Pakistan and has already been conferred with the award during his visit to Pakistan in October last year.
The Pakistan Civil Awards are given in recognition to the contribution of men and women who rendered meritorious service to the country in their respective fields of activity or performed exemplary acts of gallantry.
The Pakistan Civil Awards were established on March 19, 1957. The announcement of civil awards is generally made on the Independence Day August 14, and the investiture on the following Pakistan Day.
The President every year confers civil awards on Pakistani citizens in recognition of gallantry, or distinction in academics, sports, or nursing.
The awards are conferred for gallantry - act of bravery, heroism, courage and rendering of dedicated services with selfless devotion in human rights and public service.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv