ISLAMABAD, March 22: In order to promote a greater sense of participation at the provincial level on the Pakistan Day, this year the Pakistan Civil Award ceremonies will be held in each of the provincial headquarters on March 23 in addition to the investiture ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. In this way, the recipients of the awards will now have the satisfaction of being joined by their family members on an auspicious moment in their lives.

The Civil Awards are announced every year on 14th August (Independence Day) and the ceremony to confer these awards takes place on the Pakistan Day. This year the president has conferred 133 Civil Awards.

Arrangements have been made in all the provinces where provincial governors will confer the awards on behalf of the president in categories up to the Sitara along with President’s Award for Pride of Performance to the recipients belonging to respective provinces.

Military awards in similar categories are already being conferred under decentralized arrangements by respective services.

Investiture Ceremony for the awards in the categories of Hilal and Nishan as well as of Shujaat will be held in the Presidency on March 23. It has been decided to confer all gallantry awards, which were previously decentralized, at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Arrangements have also been finalized for conferment of Civil Awards on Pakistan Day to 12 foreigners in the respective Pakistan Missions abroad. The awards are in recognition of the contribution of men and women who have rendered meritorious service to the country in their respective fields of activity or performed exemplary acts of gallantry.—APP