MEP presented with Pakistan's highest honour

North West MEP, Sajjad Karim, has been presented with Pakistan’s highest national honour to non-Pakistanis for services that have helped the country.

Dr Karim has been one of the most prominent British politicians to advocate Pakistan’s case within the EU, and the UK has been at the forefront in supporting Pakistan. Links have developed significantly over the past decade through the efforts of Sajjad and the European Parliament Friends of Pakistan group which he founded in 2004.

In recognition of his work towards achieving this, Dr Karim was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Management and Technology in Lahore and travelled to Pakistan to be presented with the award by the then Governor of Punjab, Mohammad Sawar, himself a past Member of the UK Parliament in Westminster.

The European Conservatives & Reformists Group leader, Syed Kamall MEP, also spoke highly of Dr Karim: “Sajjad is a diligent MEP and has been an advocate of EU-Pakistan relations during his time in the European Parliament. This award recognises his years of commitment to maintaining and building closer ties between the EU and Pakistan.”