Government moves to honour overseas Pakistanis with Civil Awards in landmark recognition initiative

In a major step towards recognising the invaluable contributions of the Pakistani diaspora, the Government of Pakistan has advanced the process of conferring annual Civil Awards on outstanding overseas Pakistanis, fulfilling a commitment made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The committee constituted by the Prime Minister to nominate eminent Overseas Pakistanis for Civil Awards met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The committee reviewed nominations submitted by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD), in line with the Prime Minister’s directive announced during the Overseas Pakistanis Convention 2025.

Chairing the meeting, Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a transparent and merit-based selection process, describing overseas Pakistanis as one of the country’s greatest strengths. He said their remarkable contributions to Pakistan’s economy, global image, philanthropy, business, academia and public service deserve formal national recognition through prestigious civil awards.

OPF Chairman Syed Qamar Raza highlighted the diaspora’s vital role in Pakistan’s development, saying every nomination had been carefully scrutinised to ensure fairness and recognition of genuinely deserving individuals.

Managing Director OPF M. Afzaal Bhatti said the initiative reflects Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of strengthening ties with overseas Pakistanis and acknowledging their lifelong service to the nation. He added that a rigorous evaluation process had been adopted to identify outstanding Pakistanis from diverse professional fields across the world.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Federal Secretary OP&HRD Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary, Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali, Director General W&S Mustafa Haider, Assistant Director (Special Initiatives) Shahrukh Balach and other senior officials.

The committee will now submit its recommendations to the Cabinet Division for final approval.

A Welcome Step

The decision has been widely welcomed by overseas Pakistanis, many of whom have long called for greater recognition of the diaspora’s contribution to the country’s economy and international reputation. By institutionalising annual Civil Awards for distinguished overseas Pakistanis, the government is sending a strong message that the services of millions of Pakistanis living abroad are valued and appreciated.

For decades, overseas Pakistanis have played a pivotal role through record remittances, investment, humanitarian work, professional excellence and by promoting Pakistan’s image across the world. Recognising these achievements through the country’s highest civilian honours is being viewed as a positive and timely initiative that further strengthens the bond between Pakistan and its global diaspora.