Sarmad Khoosat, whose name was removed off the esteemed Sitar-e-Imtiaz list in August 2023 in recognition of his service to Pakistan’s entertainment sector, disclosed the news on his Instagram feed.
The actor and filmmaker said, “My name has vanished from the 14 August ’23 list of Presidential Awards that everyone ‘officially’ and unofficially congratulated me for,” a few days before the awards are scheduled to be formally revealed on March 23, honoring the nation’s greatest accomplishments.
Sarmad was one of several people in the entertainment sector who were chosen to receive the prestigious award in August 2023. Adnan Siddiqui, Zubaida (Naghma), and Hassan Askari are among the other film industry members who have received recognition for their work in acting, hosting, and film direction, respectively. Other recipients include writer and producer Naseer Baig Mirza, calligrapher and painter Ajab Khan, and flute player Baqir Abbas. Famous Grammy winner Arooj Aftab has also been awarded a Pride of Performance, which is the highest literary honor given for demonstrating brilliance in the arts and music.
It remains to be seen if these numbers hold onto their spot on the much expected list.
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