Amjad Hadi Yousafzai
Peshawar’s vibrant public events are increasingly becoming a source of entertainment for citizens as well as an opportunity to recognize individuals who have rendered outstanding services in various fields. The Fakhr-e-Pakhtunkhwa Awards 2026 ceremony was also a beautiful addition to this tradition. However, like any large-scale event, the programme also had certain aspects that could be improved in the future. In particular, the relatively large number of awards made some portions of the programme feel somewhat lengthy, while the large turnout of attendees also resulted in some instances of disorder. Nevertheless, organizing such events in Peshawar is a positive activity, and the overall effort deserves appreciation while minor administrative shortcomings can be taken in a constructive spirit.
The Fakhr-e-Pakhtunkhwa Awards 2026 ceremony was held at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar, where 52 individuals who have rendered distinguished services in politics, social welfare, journalism, police, education, sports, trade, construction, culture and other fields were honored with awards in recognition of their valuable contributions.
A large number of people attended the ceremony, along with prominent figures from political, social, literary, journalistic, educational, business and artistic circles. Such events have now become a regular part of Peshawar’s cultural and social landscape, and citizens continue to show considerable interest in them.
Former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ghulam Ali was the chief guest. President of the Awami National Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mian Iftikhar Hussain, renowned poet and writer Abasin Yousafzai, and other prominent personalities also attended the ceremony.
The recipients of the Fakhr-e-Pakhtunkhwa Awards included Shaheed SP Tahir Dawar, Qazi Arif Mahmood, Shaheed Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi, Shahkar Atman Khel, SSP Yasir Afridi, Syed Anwar Kamal, Himayatullah Mayar, Muhammad Anwar Kamal, Saif Ali Khan, Dr. Abdul Haseeb Yousafzai, Meena Shams, Dr. Muhammad Junaid, Muhammad Imran Asad, Kiran Junaid Malik, Amjad Tahir Dawar, Shazia Rahman, SP Sabir Hussain Shah, Ameer Bahadur Khan, Ruqia Nawaz, Muhammad Ahsan Zeb, SSP Special Branch Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada, Raban Wazir, Dr. Faiza Nawaz, Muhammad Usman Humayun, Sajid Khan Afridi, Zahid Jamal, Wajid Ali Shinwari, Sharif, SSP Traffic Roziya Altaf, Yasir Rashid, Miss Sehreesh, Abu Huraira Afridi, Mah Noor Aftab, and Sajid Khan Batoor, among a total of 52 distinguished personalities.
Organizer and host Dr. Hamza Jamshed said that the purpose of the Fakhr-e-Pakhtunkhwa Awards is to recognize the services of individuals who have played a positive role in society, encourage them, and provide positive examples for the younger generation.
The ceremony was further enlivened by musical performances from Junaid Kamran Siddiqui, Asfandyar Mohmand, Shehzad Khayal, Muntazir Khan, Shaukat Swati, Sanbala Baig, and Heer Khan, along with other singers. The performances were appreciated by the audience.
The large turnout did, at certain points, lead to some disorder; however, such situations are to some extent common at large public events. Likewise, the relatively high number of awards made some parts of the programme lengthy, and some members of the audience experienced a degree of boredom.
This aspect is also understandable, as organizers of such programmes have to accommodate the expectations of sponsors and representatives of different sectors. Nevertheless, a better balance between the number of awards, the overall duration of the programme, and the entertainment segments could help maintain the audience’s interest until the end.
The purpose of this constructive criticism is not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but rather to identify areas where an already positive effort can be made even better. Organizers should strive to ensure that audiences are entertained as much as possible, unnecessary delays are avoided, and sufficient time is allocated to entertainment alongside the award presentations.
Overall, the Fakhr-e-Pakhtunkhwa Awards 2026 was a commendable initiative that not only recognized individuals who have served in different fields but also added vibrancy to Peshawar’s cultural environment. Such events should continue in an increasingly organized and engaging manner so that, along with honoring deserving personalities, they also provide audiences with an enjoyable and memorable experience.
