Sitara-e-Imtiaz ستارہِ امتیاز
Obverse Neck Medals for Left:Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) Right:Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Awarded by thePresident of Pakistan
Type	Award
Ribbon	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Eligibility	Pakistani or Foreign citizen
Awarded for	The highest degree of service to the state, and for services to international diplomacy.
Status	Currently constituted
Sovereign	President of Pakistan
Sovereign	Prime minister of Pakistan
Statistics
First induction	19 March 1957
Precedence
Next (higher)	Hilal-e-Imtiaz
Next (lower)	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

TheSitara-e-Imtiaz (Urdu:ستارہِ امتیاز,lit. 'Star of Excellence') also spelled asSitara-i-Imtiaz, is the third-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz")^[1] honour andcivilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes individuals who have made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavours".^[2]

This award is not limited to the citizens of Pakistan, and it can also be awarded to foreign citizens based on their achievements and services done to the State of Pakistan (seeWładysław Turowicz). While, it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military officers of thePakistan Defence Forces worn on their uniform for recognition of their services to the country. Like other awards, it is a highly restricted and prestigious award only given to those who have done great services to the country. It is one of the most distinguished civil decorations to the civilians who have made outstanding contribution in their respected fields such as literature, arts, sports, medicine, or science, which prompted the recognition of the country on international level.

It is given to a person who has accomplished duty beyond what is assigned to him/her. To receive this honour, the individuals are expected to show eminence and be outstanding in providing excellent service in a significant field of activity beyond what they are assigned to.

For officers in the military, it is given after distinguished service, and is also the highest medal that can be awarded to those at the rank ofBrigadier-General orMajor-General in the (Army),Air-Commodores orAir Vice-Marshals in the (Air Force) andCommodore orRear-Admiral in the (Navy,Coast Guard, andMarines).

TheParliament's Committee for Award and Recognition Services for State of Pakistan, selects the names of individuals and sends final report to thePrime minister of Pakistan. On advice of the Prime minister, the President organizes a colourful ceremony that is telecast and broadcast by thePakistan Television Corporation. The award is usually given to individuals one by one and not in groups because the whole purpose of the award is to assess the recipient's individual capabilities in par excellence.

The award is a disc of goldenJasminum which stands between two and five points of the star, and is also of pure gold. The star is in the form of a five pointed star, with additional bright coloured Jasminum filling in space between points of the star. In the middle of the star, a well polished green emerald circumference fills the inside of the golden star. A smaller golden star is situated in the middle of the emerald field.

A special grade of the medal/award has larger execution of the same medal design worn as a star on the left chest. In addition, it is worn as a sash on the right shoulder, with its rosette (yellow with white (for civilians) or/ green (for military officers only) with white and yellow edge, bearing the central disc of the medal at its centre, resting on the left hip.

At the formal ceremony, both medals can be worn at the same time depending upon the individual's achievements. The medal is suspended on a ribbon, dark green colour with a light yellow and white central stripe with white edge stripes.

This award is the3rd Grade in the Order ofImtiaz (Excellence). The four Grades in theOrder of Imtiaz are:

1. Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence;Urdu:نشانِ امتیاز)
2. Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence;Urdu:ہلالِ امتیاز)
3. Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence;Urdu:ستارہ امتیاز)
4. Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence;Urdu:تمغہِ امتیاز).^[3]

ORDER OF IMTIAZ (CIVILIAN)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz	Hilal-e-Imtiaz	Sitara-e-Imtiaz	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

ORDER OF IMTIAZ (MILITARY)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz	Hilal-e-Imtiaz	Sitara-e-Imtiaz	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

Theribbon for theSitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) is:

• Yellow with a white centre band and a narrowPakistan Green stripe in the middle.

Theribbon for theSitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) is:

• White edges withPakistan Green band on each side, two equal white stripes separated by an equal sizedPakistan Green stripe in the middle.

This list isincomplete; you can help byadding missing items.(March 2025)

• Lieutenant Colonel Shaukat Syed (1959)

• Muhammad Enamul Huq (Bangladesh) (1962)
• Ahmad Hasan Dani (archaeologist, historian, and linguist)

• Ghulam Abbas Miana (1987, chemistry)
• Farman Fatephuri (linguist, writer, poet and editor) (1985)^[4]
• Khwaja Khurshid Anwar (film music director and musicologist) (1980)^[5]
• Brig. General Mian Muhammad Afzaal CGS (Shaheed) (later Lt. General) (1980)
• S. Muhib ur Rab (1980)
• Brig. Muhammad Salim (Army Medical Corps)
• Munier Choudhuri
• Ghulam Ali (singer)
• A. R. Kemal^[6][7] (economist)^[8]
• Sayed Nafees al-Hussaini (calligrapher)
• Muhammad Abdullah (Islamic scholar)^[9]
• Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi (Islamic scholar)
• Maulana Shamsul Haq Afghani (1980)
• Ayub Khan Ommaya (1981)
• A.Q Mughal^[10][11]
• Israr Ahmed (Islamic scholar & philosopher) 1981

• Misbah-Ud-Din Shami (1990),crystallography^[12]
• Salim Mehmud (1990), significant contributions toSUPARCO
• Charis Waddy, writer (1990) for promoting understanding of Pakistan, and particularly its women, in the West
• William Brown, Pakistan Army^[13]
• Bapsi Sidhwa (writer) (1991)^[14]
• Jansher Khan (squash player) (1993)^[15]
• Shamsul-hasan Shams Barelvi (1995)
• Group Capt Dr Muhammad Aslam Butt PAF (1997) for significant contribution to science & engineering education).
• Wazir Agha (writer)^[16]
• Abdul Majid (1999), significant contributions toSUPARCO
• Talib Jauhari (poet, philosopher, Muslim scholar of Shiite sect and orator )^[17]
• Munir Niazi (poet)
• Iqtedar Hussain Bhatti (1999)

Professor DoctorAllamah Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai (23rd March 2001) In recognition of his vast literary and scholarly contributions,

• Iftikhar Ahmad, PSP, (DIG Police, Multan) (Punjab)
• Riazul Islam (historian)^[18]
• M. Sultan Farooqui
• Kazi Abdul Shakoor
• Faiz Muhammad Khan
• Manzoor Hussain Khan (engineering/metallurgy & material education)^[19]

• Inzamam ul Haq (former Test captain) in 2005
• Professor Dr. Tahir Shafi

• Liaquat H. Merchant (banking litigation, services rendered in health and education sectors)
• Mohammad Hussain Dadabhoy (2006)^[20]
• Dr Faiz Mohammad Khan (2006)^[20]
• Sultan Ali Allana (2006)^[20]

• Abdul Samad Lasi (Moondra)
• A. R. Kemal^[8][6][7]
• Brig. Muhammad Mansur Aslam
• Brig. Tughral Yamin

• Azhar Mahmood (Federal Investigation Agency, Director FIA).

• Brig. Ali Nasre Alam^[21]
• Brig Sohail Ahmed Qureshi
• Javed Ahmed Ghamidi
• Ayesha Jalal^[22]
• Asad Umar^[23]

• Rahimullah Yusufzai
• Muhammad Amjad Saqib^[24]

• Rao Maaz Khalid (car enthusiast)
• Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas
• Saeed Akhtar (portrait painter)
• Engr. M.P. Gangwani (bureaucrat & social worker)
• Mohammad Yousuf (former Test player) in 2011
• Siraj ul Haq Memon (literature and journalism)

• Aslam Azhar (pioneer ofPakistan Television Corporation)^[25]
• Mohammad Qavi Khan
• Shaista Zaid (English newscaster - Pakistan Television Corporation))^[26]

• Shahid Mahmood Baig (science: genetic disorders in Pakistan)
• Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (education: engineering & technology)
• Asif Mahmood Jah
• Masood Ashar, (literature)
• Zahid Pervaiz, (public service)^[27]
• Col(R) Ayyaz Nasir
• Yasmin Tahir (arts: Compering)
• Umar Saif (Education: information technology)
• Mujahid Kamran (education)
• Rahat Ali Khan (music: classical & semi classical international singer)
• Saeed Ajmal (sports: cricket)
• Abdul Rashid Seyal (public service)
• Muhammad Parvez Masud (social services)
• Muhammad Younas Sheikh (social work)

• Raees Ahmed (arts, sitar)
• Yang Wei (China)
• Mustansar Hussain Tarar (travelogue writer, novelist)
• Hafeez-ur-Rehman Hoorani (physics)
• Muhammad Iqbal (biotechnology)
• Muhammad Aslam Noor (mathematics)
• Tariq Mahmood Fatik (engineering)
• Munir Ahmad (engineering)
• Ghulam Sarwar (engineering)
• Nadeem Ghaffar (engineering)
• Brig (R) Munawar Hussain (engineering)
• Aleem Arshad (engineering)
• Ayaz Ayub (engineering)
• Khalid Naseeruddin Shaikh (engineering)
• Nayyar Ali Dada (engineering)
• SyedAther Enam (medicine)
• Dr Mahboob Ali (medicine)
• Eice Muhammad (medicine)
• Mrs. Shahnaz Wazir Ali (education)
• Mohammad Rasul Jan (science)

• Zia Chishti (entrepreneur)^[33]
• Ashar Aziz
• Saira Afzal Tarar
• Ashtar Ausaf Ali
• Zahid Bashir
• Shahzad Roy
• Sarfraz Ahmed (cricketer)
• Shahid Afridi
• Misbah-ul-Haq

• Raza Saqib Mustafai
• Babar Azam Pakistani cricketer
• Brig (R) Nasir Khan Jadoon

• Ambreen Jan (Federal Secretary Information and Broadcasting)^[42]
• Asif Bashir Pakistani rescue hero^[43]
• Muhammad Afzal Tahir (military)
• Imtiaz Hussain (highest tax payer 2025)
• Colonel Muhammad Sajjad Anwar Bajwa
• Zia Ul Haq
• Salma Awan in recognition of her literary services.^[44]
• Syed Farman Hussain (POP), (SI), Member Materials PAEC

• Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
• Civil awards and decorations of Pakistan
• Military awards and decorations of Pakistan
• Awards established in 1957
• 1957 establishments in Pakistan

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use Pakistani English from December 2020
• All Wikipedia articles written in Pakistani English
• Use dmy dates from December 2020
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• Incomplete lists from March 2025