British-Pakistani educationist gets top civilian honour

British-Pakistani entrepreneur and educationist Sarwar Muhammad Khawaja was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz by Asif Ali Zardari during an investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Hailing from Lahore, Khawaja has established a leading position in the United Kingdom’s higher education management sector, building one of the largest education management operations in the country.

He has facilitated education and skills development programmes that, according to the citation, have impacted more than 40,000 people globally.

A citation stated that the award recognises Khawaja’s contributions to education, technological advancement, entrepreneurship, and social development, as well as his efforts to enhance Pakistan’s international profile and socio-economic progress.

Khawaja expressed gratitude for the honour, saying it represented a commitment to public service and future generations.

“The conferment of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz stands as a defining milestone in acknowledging my lifelong dedication to educational excellence, innovation, and national development,” he said.

“I am thankful to the government of Pakistan for facilitating us in establishing Pakistan’s first AI university in Lahore. We are going to introduce a world-class curriculum which will empower the youth of Pakistan. It will be Pakistan’s first AI university to strengthen the education ecosystem in Punjab and Pakistan. We are in touch with several key partners in the UK and EU to strengthen modern education in Pakistan,” he added.

Khawaja, born in 1968, completed his early education in Lahore. He is an alumnus of Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Buckinghamshire New University, and City University of London.

He is a prominent British-Pakistani entrepreneur and, according to the statement, one of the largest private Pakistani-led education facility management operators in the United Kingdom.