President Mamnoon Hussain confers Sitara-i-Imtiaz to the Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema

Lahore: President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain, has awarded Civil Award (Sitara-i-Imtiaz) to the Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema.

In the middle of year 2012, The Department of Passport & Immigration, was in such a dire state that it was unable to issue new passports to the masses. The situation caused inconvenience   to the thousands of passport seekers. Students who wish to study in foreign universities, patients and job seekers were in the endless queues. Hajj and Umrah goers were worried. Passports of thousands of Overseas Pakistani’s were expired and at the end they attacked and vandalize the Pakistani embassy and showed their aggression. Domestic and international media was highlighting the issue. Eight million applications were pending till the start of the year 2013.To resolve the issue that became a great national crisis, then Government, appointed hard-working and reputed officer Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema, head of the Department of Passport & Immigration. His exceptional leadership capabilities brought life to the languishing department in a short time.

The Cheema cleared corrupt elements and corrupt practices from the department and strengthened honest, hard-working and motivated employees. Working day and night, millions of passports were issued and Zulfiqar Cheema succeeds to clear back log in just 03 months. He not only controlled the crisis but also made the department a dignified and respectable institution.  The success story of Department of Immigration and Passport is an example for all Governmental and non-Governmental institutions.

Upon the recommendation of Civil Award Committee, the President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain, has conferred Civil Award-Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema, in recognition of his services by restoring the image of the department and country.

Mr. Cheema has always enjoyed the repute of introducing positive changes and optimal outputs of the organizations. In the year 2008-09 Gujranwala was ruled by dangerous organized gangs of robbers and kidnappers. He eliminated all those gangs and made Gujranwala peaceful. Upon his extraordinary performance, Government of Pakistan awarded him Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and People of Gujranwala remember him as “Muhafiz-e-Gujranwala.