Governor of Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz upon SSP Akhtar Farooq at a special ceremony held at Governor House Lahore. The award was bestowed on behalf of the President of Pakistan in recognition of his outstanding services in the field of public service.
SSP Akhtar Farooq is currently serving as the District Police Officer Gujrat. Throughout his professional career, he has played a significant role in the war against terrorism, intelligence-based operations, and police reforms. By integrating the Operations, Intelligence, and Investigation Wings into a coordinated and efficient system, SSP Akhtar Farooq transformed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) into more proactive and robust institution.
Under his exceptional leadership, an extensive intelligence operation spanning eight consecutive months in Peshawar led to the exposure and dismantling of a major network of a proscribed organization.
Similarly, during continuous intelligence-based operations, a suicide bomber and his facilitator were arrested, while several terrorist plots in Lahore were thwarted in time.
The conferment of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz upon SSP Akhtar Farooq is a matter of pride and honour for Punjab Police. His distinguished services serve as a guiding example for police officers and personnel across the department.