Distinguished figures from Pakistan's entertainment industry were honored with civil awards during ceremonies held in the federal and provincial capitals to mark Pakistan Day.

Renowned Pakistani actress Sajal Ali received the esteemed Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) for her outstanding contributions to acting, particularly her work on an international scale. The award was presented to her by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman during a ceremony in Lahore, on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Meanwhile, iconic musician Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was bestowed with the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's second-highest civilian award, for his remarkable services to the Pakistani and South Asian music industry. President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award on Khan at Aiwan-e-Sadr, recognizing his significant achievements in arts, Qawwali, and music promotion worldwide.

Expressing his gratitude, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan remarked, "It is with profound gratitude that I accept the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz & Sitara-I-Imtiaz awards bestowed upon me by the esteemed President. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my cherished family, friends, and devoted fans whose unwavering support has been my guiding light on this remarkable journey."

Adnan Siddiqui, a seasoned actor and host, was honored with the Presidential Pride of Performance award for his notable achievements in the arts. The award was presented to him by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori during a ceremony held at Governor House Karachi, representing President Zardari.

Additionally, TV host Juggun Kazim received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for her exceptional hosting of the country’s largest Ramadan transmission. Filmmaker Bilal Lashari, renowned for his work in "The Legend of Maula Jatt," was conferred with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his contributions to the film industry.

However, filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat expressed confusion as his name was removed from the list of presidential award nominees announced on August 14, 2023.

Below is a compilation of notable artists and the accolades they were honored with:

HILAL-I-IMTIAZ
Rahat Ali Khan
Qawwali / Singing
Mohammad Ahmed Shah
Culture
Mehmood Ahmed Tahir Bhatti
Film Direction & Fashion Designing

SITARA-I-IMTIAZ
Bilal Lashari
Direction, Cinematography, Scriptwriting
Satish Anand
Film Production / Distribution
Javed Bashir Ahmad
Singing
Faakhir Mehmood
Singing
Shabnam
Singing

PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR PRIDE OF PERFORMANCE
Shazia Manzoor
Singing
Dhai Bai alias Mai Dhai
Singing
Hamayoon Khan Arts
Singing
Inayat Hussain Bhatti (late)
Film Acting, Production, Direction, Scriptwriting
Zulfiqar Ali Attre
Music Composing
Ajab Gul
Acting / Direction
Ishrat Abass
Drama / Theater / Radio / Actor
Shakir Zeb
Music Direction
Qadir Bux Mithoo
Comedy
Mussarrat Kalanchvi
Urdu / Saraiki Fiction & Playwriting
Adnan Siddiqui
Acting, Host, Production
Zubaida (Naghma)
Film Artist
Hassan Askari
Film Direction / Writing
Sheema Kermani
Classical Dancing / Choreography
Naseer Baig Mirza
Comparing, Writing, Producer 

TAMGHA-I-IMTIAZ
Sajal Ali
Acting
Juggan Kazim
Anchoring / Acting
Abdul Batin Farooqi
Acting
Almas Khan Khalil
Folk Pashto Singing
Fazal Wahab Dard
Singing
Ustad Rustam Fateh Ali Khan
Classical Singing
Imran Aziz Mian
Qawwali
Gulraiz Ghouri
Photography
Rahmatullah Khan
Photography
Khalid Bin Shaheen
Acting / Production
Shahzad Rafique
Film Direction
Fizza Ali Meerza
Production / Screen Writing
Amjad Sheikh
Production / Distribution
Abdul Wasay Chaudhary
Film / Drama Acting
Farooq Hassan
Host