On 14 August, the 51st anniversary of Pakistan's independence, President Rafiq Tarar conferred civil awards on 120 citizens for their pursuit of excellence in fields ranging from literature to arts to sciences. Five ICTP Associates were among the award winners, including Muhammad Masud Ahmad (Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission), who received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz or Crescent of Distinction. Other ICTP Associates receiving recognition were Abdul Waheed Khan (Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan), Mujahid Kamran (University of the Punjab, Lahore), M. Zafar Iqbal (Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad) and Khawaja Yaldram (Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Islamabad). Each was granted a President's Award for Pride of Performance. The official ceremony is scheduled to take place next March.