Houston Mayor John Whitmire has praised the decades-long humanitarian services of Pakistani-American community leader Muhammad Saeed Sheikh after he was recently awarded Pakistan’s Sitara-e-Khidmat (Star of Service), one of the country’s highest civilian honours.
Speaking at a recognition ceremony in Houston, Whitmire announced that he plans to visit Pakistan during his second term as mayor, with the aim of strengthening people-to-people ties and promoting greater cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.
The ceremony was jointly organised by the Consulate General of Pakistan in Houston and the Houston Karachi Sister City Association. It was attended by members of the Pakistani-American community, business leaders and civic representatives who gathered to celebrate Sheikh’s more than four decades of public service.
Whitmire expressed his gratitude to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari for conferring the Sitara-e-Khidmat on Sheikh in recognition of his humanitarian and community services. He said Sheikh had dedicated the past 40 years to serving people without discrimination, describing his contributions as a model of civic leadership and public service.
During the ceremony, the mayor presented an official City of Houston proclamation declaring July 21, 2026, as “Muhammad Saeed Sheikh Day.” The proclamation acknowledged Sheikh’s longstanding humanitarian initiatives, civic leadership and efforts to promote friendship and mutual understanding between Pakistan and the United States.
Addressing the gathering, prominent Pakistani-American businessman Syed Javed Anwar said Sheikh had spent decades serving humanity without seeking recognition. He described Sheikh as a deserving recipient of one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honours.
Pakistan’s Consul General in Houston, Aftab Chaudhry, said Sheikh’s services in both the United States and Pakistan had set an example of community service. He added that the award was a source of pride not only for Sheikh but also for the broader Pakistani-American community.
Accepting the recognition, Sheikh thanked the Government of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari, the Consulate General of Pakistan, community members and the organisers of the event. He said the honour was not his alone but belonged to everyone who had supported his humanitarian efforts over the years.
“This award represents the collective efforts of our entire community,” Sheikh said. “Many individuals stood beside me — not only through financial support but by working with me at every stage of our humanitarian initiatives. Among them, Syed Javed Anwar has been one of the foremost supporters. This recognition belongs to all of them as much as it belongs to me.”