President Zardari Confers Sitara-e-Imtiaz on Prof. Dr. Sarwar Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Prof. Dr. Sarwar Muhammad Khawaja, a distinguished British-Pakistani entrepreneur, educationist, and philanthropist, has been conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of the highest civilian honours of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, by the President of Pakistan,  Asif Ali Zardari, at a prestigious investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House), Islamabad.

The solemn ceremony was graced by the Chairman Senate, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, alongside members of the federal and provincial cabinets, eminent diplomats, and distinguished representatives from Pakistan’s social and business spheres.

This eminent accolade recognises Prof. Dr. Khawaja’s exemplary contributions to education, technological advancement, entrepreneurship, and social uplift, as well as his sustained commitment to enhancing Pakistan’s international stature and socio-economic progress.

Born in Lahore, Prof. Dr. Khawaja has emerged as a pre-eminent figure within the United Kingdom’s higher education management sector, establishing one of the largest education management operations in the UK. Through his visionary initiatives, he has facilitated the transformation of over 40,000 lives globally through education management and skills development programmes.

He is the Founder and Chairman of SK Hub and has held several distinguished international positions, including serving as a Senator in the European Economic Senate and as Chairman of the European Council on Global Relations.

Prof. Dr. Khawaja has played a pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan’s education ecosystem, including the successful facilitation of the country’s first Artificial Intelligence university charter in Punjab. His contributions extend well beyond academia into the domains of social welfare and community empowerment. As Chairman of Akhuwat UK, he has spearheaded initiatives supporting underprivileged communities, while also funding critical healthcare infrastructure, including dialysis centres in Lahore and Kasur.

Furthermore, he has been instrumental in advancing Pakistan’s soft power globally through strategic international collaborations, including facilitating the visit of renowned fashion icon Jimmy Choo to Pakistan and supporting the establishment of a world-class fashion academy in the country.

Through his philanthropic endeavours, Prof. Dr. Khawaja has enabled access to free education for thousands of students across Punjab and empowered hundreds of women entrepreneurs through structured skills development and financial inclusion programmes.

On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Khawaja expressed profound gratitude for the honour, noting that the recognition symbolises a collective commitment to public service and the advancement of future generations.

The conferment of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz stands as a defining milestone in acknowledging his lifelong dedication to educational excellence, innovation, and national development.