The citation read on the occasion said that the award was being conferred in recognition of his long meritorious services.
It may be mentioned that Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt has also been decorated with the awards of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat for his meritorious and dedicated services. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Information Minister Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Secretary General. M. Salman Faruqui, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Federal Secretaries, Officers of Pakistan Air Force and others were present on the occasion.