PARIS, March 6: Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal conferred National Awards on behalf of the President of Pakistan, upon French naval engineers and technicians — dead and injured — at an investiture ceremony held on Thursday in the Pakistan Embassy.

Sitara-i-Pakistan was awarded to 11 French nationals posthumously, and Tamgha-i-Pakistan to 12 technicians who were injured in the Karachi attack on May 28 lat year.

The citation read on the occasion highlighted the meritorious services of the French technicians and engineers.

It stated that the government and people of Pakistan viewed, with great respect, the contribution and cooperation by the French nationals working on the Submarine Construction Project.

The project, it added, was a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

Addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal paid tributes to the French nationals who lost their lives and expressed heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the president and people of Pakistan to the families of the deceased and the injured.

Earlier, the Ambassador of Pakistan Musa Javed Chohan in his introductory remarks apprised the audience about the significance of the ceremony and the national awards.

The French Defence Minister, Madame Michele Alliot-Marie in her speech appreciated Pakistan’s gesture.

The minister said France would remain faithful towards its friends as well as its commitments. —APP