The Sindh Department of Culture has revealed that nominations for actors Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa for the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz award were turned down twice by the federal government without official explanation.
Speaking at an event in Karachi, Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah stated that his department had officially proposed the names of both actors on two separate occasions following recommendations from an expert panel. Despite their substantial contributions to Pakistan’s entertainment industry, both nominations were overlooked at the federal level.
The provincial minister questioned the exclusion, emphasizing that artists from Sindh have actively promoted Pakistan’s cultural identity across national and international platforms, including India and Gulf nations. He urged the federal government to give greater priority to the cultural sector and extend national recognition to personalities who represent the country on global stages.
