Actor and renowned director Sarmad Khoosat has disclosed that his name has been struck from the esteemed Presidential Awards roster.
A few days before to the formal ceremony set for Pakistan Day on March 23, Khoosat announced this development on his Instagram story.
“My name has disappeared from the list of Presidential Awards that was announced on August 14, 2023, for which I received both official and informal congratulations.”
Khoosat was nominated for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award in August of last year, but his name is noticeably missing from the list currently.
Trailblazers who have made noteworthy contributions to their disciplines are given the Presidential Award.
To recognize their significant accomplishments, a number of celebrities have been nominated for several Presidential Award categories.
Sajal Ali, an actress, has been chosen for acting, while Juggan Kazim, an anchor, has been picked for acting. Both are expected to get the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz Award.
Farooq Hassan and Abdul Wasay Chaudhary have also been nominated for the same award, in the hosting and acting for film/drama categories, respectively.
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award will be given to renowned qawaal/singer Rahat Ali Khan in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the qawaal/singing community.
Sheema Kermani for classical dancing/choreography, Shazia Manzoor for singing, Naseer Baig Mirza for comparing, writing, and producing, and Adnan Siddiqui for acting, hosting, and production have all received awards.
The Pride of Performance Award will be given to each of these renowned individuals.
The industry is now debating the selection procedure and standards for these esteemed awards after Sarmad Khoosat’s name was removed from the list of recipients.
