Hilal-i-Pakistan conferred on Unesco DG

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain conferred Hilal-i-Pakistan award on Irina Bokova, the director general of Unesco, at a special ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.

Ms Bokova was given the award in recognition of her services to the people of Pakistan and for supporting the country at various Unesco fora, promoting cultural heritage and Indus Valley civilisation and helping the country during natural disasters.

Ms Bokova, the first female chief of Unesco, has played a significant role in various activities in Pakistan.

She was instrumental in establishing the Malala Fund for girls’ right to education in 2012 and setting up the Pakistan’s Tsunami Early Warning System. She also launched a Moenjodaro exhibition plan during the Unesco executive board’s meeting in 2004 to highlight the significance of preserving the Indus Valley civilisation and revive international interest for the preservation of the site. Later, Ms Bokova called on President Hussain and discussed matters relating to various activities and projects being undertaken by Unesco.

The president appreciated Unesco for lending support to the country in various fields.

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UNESCO's role in preservation of heritage is well established. The revival of its involvement in Pakistani projects is also due to relentless efforts on part of Mrs Attiya Inayatullah, long standing member and chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO. I believe that along with honoring the Director-General of UNESCO, Mrs Inayatullah merits some credit also. Thanks to the efforts of both that we have some meaningful projects of aid in Pakistan in the fields of education, science and culture.

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