Sarmad Khoosat, whose name was added to the time-honoured Sitar-e-Imtiaz list in August 2023 recognising his contribution to the entertainment industry in Pakistan, revealed on his Instagram handle that his name has been struck off the prestigious list. 

“My name has vanished from the 14 August ’23 list of Presidential Awards that everyone ‘officially’ and unofficially congratulated me for,” posted the actor and director, just days before the awards are to be officially announced on 23 March commemorating top achievements in the country. 

In August 2023, Sarmad was amongst many in the entertainment industry singled out for the coveted award. Others in the film industry to have been recognised have been Adnan Siddiqui, Zubaida (Naghma), and Hassan Askari, who have recognised for contributions to acting, hosting, and film direction, respectively, along with Naseer Baig Mirza (writer, producer), Ajab Khan (calligrapher, painter), and Baqir Abbas (flute player). In addition, renowned Grammy winner Arooj Aftab has been conferred with a Pride of Performance – the highest literary award for displaying excellence in the field of art and music. 

Whether or not these figures retain their place in the much-awaited list remains to be seen.

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