Dawn Images

On this March 23, Punjab Nahi Jaungi star Mehwish Hayat will be one of 127 people who will be bestowed a civil award by President Arif Alvi in honour of their work for Pakistan's betterment.

Mehwish will receive a Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, which is the fourth-highest decoration given to any civilian in Pakistan. Other entertainment figures being honored on March 23 include actor Babra Sharif and singers Attaullah Essakhelvi and Sajjad Ali, who are both being bestowed the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Reema Khan is getting a Pride of Performance award.

Speaking to Images, Mehwish said it was life-affirming to receive this honour:

"I was very humbled by the news that the President of Pakistan has decided to bestow this honour upon me. For me, I have simply been pursuing my passion and to be recognised in this way with one of the highest civil awards is recognition that I must be doing something right.

"I took the decision very early to remain in Pakistan and to focus on building our nascent industry and I am proud of my contribution. For the past five years I have been blessed with some of the biggest hits of Pakistani cinema."

She also said that she shares the honour with her friends in the field without whom she could not have achieved any success:

"But I can not take credit for this alone and and as I receive the award on the 23rd I will be sharing it with all the directors, co-stars, writers, technicians and even the makeup artists and spot boys who have contributed to this success.

"I thank all my fans who have supported me through this wonderful journey. All I can say is that best is yet to come and I hope to keep making Pakistan proud of me. Pakistan Zindabad."

We wish Mehwish Hayat even more success in the years to come.