From Pakistan to Korea: Zahid Hussain Honoured with Sitara-i-Imtiaz for Building Bridges Between Cultures
A son of the soil of Gilgit-Baltistan, alumnus of Cadet College Skardu, engineer, broadcaster, entrepreneur and cultural bridge-builder, Zahid Hussain has earned national recognition for a remarkable journey that has taken him from the mountains of northern Pakistan to the heart of South Korean public life.
The Government of Pakistan has announced the conferment of the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) upon Pakistani broadcaster, entrepreneur and cultural liaison Zahid Hussain, in recognition of his services to Pakistan, public service, cultural diplomacy and his sustained efforts to foster a better understanding of Pakistan among the Korean people.
The announcement was made on 14 August 2026, Pakistan's Independence Day, with the formal investiture scheduled for 23 March 2027, Pakistan Day.
For Zahid, who has spent nearly two decades in South Korea, the honour represents much more than an individual distinction. It is a recognition of a sustained journey of building bridges between people, societies and cultures—particularly between Pakistan and South Korea.
A son of Gilgit-Baltistan who carried his horizons beyond the mountains
Zahid's story holds a special significance for Gilgit-Baltistan.
An alumnus of Cadet College Skardu, he represents a generation of young people from the region whose aspirations have extended far beyond their immediate geographical surroundings. From the rugged mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, his educational journey eventually took him to South Korea, where he studied engineering and subsequently established a professional and public identity of considerable distinction.
His journey demonstrates how education can become a passport to the wider world without severing one's connection with one's roots.
Indeed, Zahid's achievements abroad have ultimately brought him closer to the role of representing his country, culture and community before an international audience.
From scholarship student to cultural bridge
Zahid arrived in South Korea in 2008 under the Korean Government Scholarship Programme (GKS). He studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Korea University and subsequently completed an MBA at the SKK Graduate School of Business, Sungkyunkwan University.
What began as an academic journey gradually developed into something considerably broader.
Over the years, Zahid became involved in cultural exchange, tourism promotion, business, voluntary service, environmental initiatives and public discussions concerning multiculturalism and social integration.
His contribution was increasingly recognised in Korea. In 2018, he received Honorary Citizenship of Seoul and was recognised as an Honorary Ambassador of the Korea Tourism Organization. In 2021, the GKS Korea Chapter highlighted him as a recipient of the “Pride of Pakistan” distinction. He also became the first non-Korean recipient of the Grand Prize at the Seoul Tourism Awards.
The Pakistani face on Korean television
Perhaps the widest Korean public came to know Zahid through JTBC's popular programme Abnormal Summit (비정상회담), in which he represented Pakistan for two years.
His appearance on the programme was significant because it enabled Korean viewers to encounter Pakistan through the personality and experiences of a Pakistani himself rather than merely through international news reports or preconceived stereotypes.
For many Koreans, Zahid became a human window into Pakistan.
Through his discussions and public appearances, he helped introduce audiences to Pakistani culture, food, history, society and everyday life.
Beyond television: a wider mission of representation
Zahid's activities have never been restricted to broadcasting.
He has participated in educational and cultural programmes, public forums, tourism initiatives, voluntary activities and business ventures. He has introduced Korean audiences to aspects of Pakistani culture while simultaneously helping Pakistanis understand Korean society.
He has also spoken publicly about Islam, halal culture, Ramadan, Muslim family life and the experiences of Muslims living in Korea.
Underlying much of his work is a simple but powerful conviction: understanding reduces prejudice.
The more people know one another as individuals and communities, the less vulnerable they become to stereotypes and misconceptions.
A bridge between Korea and the Muslim world
Zahid's role has gradually developed into a form of informal cultural diplomacy.
For him, introducing Pakistan to Korea and explaining Islam and Muslim culture are complementary rather than separate responsibilities.
He has sought to demonstrate that being Muslim and being an active, constructive member of Korean society are not mutually exclusive. Rather, cultural and religious diversity can enrich the society in which people live.
In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, he described himself as a bridge between Korea and Islam and argued that multicultural families should not be viewed merely as recipients of support but as valuable contributors to Korean society.
Korea: a second home
Although Pakistan remains his homeland, Korea has become an important part of Zahid's life.
He arrived as a student, but over the years he established friendships, professional relationships, business interests and community connections. Korea consequently became more than a country of study; it became a second home.
This sense of belonging has shaped his approach to public service.
He does not see himself merely as a Pakistani living abroad. He also considers himself a member of the Korean society that provided him with education, opportunities, friendships and a place to build his life.
His interests have extended to areas including renewable energy, environmental concerns, student support and voluntary community service.
People-to-people diplomacy
Zahid's philosophy of international relations extends beyond governments and official diplomacy.
In his view, lasting relations between nations are also built by ordinary people: a Korean student who learns about Pakistan, a Pakistani student who learns about Korean society, a Korean entrepreneur who discovers opportunities in Pakistan, or a Muslim family that feels welcomed and respected in Korea.
Each of these encounters, however small, can become part of a much larger bridge between nations.
His efforts have therefore focused on strengthening people-to-people contact, presenting Pakistan as a country of rich culture, history, tourism and economic opportunity, and promoting a more balanced understanding of Pakistan among Koreans.
At the same time, he has sought to acquaint Pakistanis and the wider Muslim community with Korea's achievements, values and opportunities.
An honour that carries a larger meaning
For Zahid, the Sitara-i-Imtiaz is not the end of a journey but an encouragement to continue it.
“I do not regard this honour merely as recognition of my personal efforts. I see it as recognition of the efforts of every Pakistani living abroad who represents Pakistan with dignity and contributes positively to the society he or she has made home.”
He believes that overseas Pakistanis can serve as bridges between nations, contributing constructively to their host societies while strengthening Pakistan's image and interests abroad.
As he puts it:
“Korea has given me education, opportunities, friendships and a second home. Therefore, my responsibility is not simply to introduce Pakistan to Korea, but also to contribute positively to Korea and help build stronger relations between the two countries.”
An achievement worthy of Gilgit-Baltistan's pride
For Gilgit-Baltistan, Zahid Hussain's story carries a special message.
The region has produced generations of talented young people who have excelled in education, the armed forces, civil administration, science, business and other professions. Zahid's journey adds another dimension: international cultural representation and people-to-people diplomacy.
His rise from Cadet College Skardu to Korean universities, from engineering studies to broadcasting and entrepreneurship, and ultimately to national recognition by the Government of Pakistan, is a reminder that talent from Gilgit-Baltistan can flourish on the international stage when given access to education and opportunity.
It is also a source of encouragement for students of the region who may sometimes feel constrained by geography.
The mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan may define one's roots; they need not define the limits of one's aspirations.
Looking towards the future
When Zahid Hussain receives the Sitara-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2027, the decoration will formally recognise the services of an individual. But the story behind that distinction will represent nearly two decades of effort.
From a Pakistani scholarship student arriving in Korea in 2008 to a familiar face on Korean television; from engineering and business education to community service and cultural diplomacy; from introducing Pakistan to Korean audiences to explaining Islam and Muslim culture in Korea—Zahid's journey illustrates the increasingly important role overseas Pakistanis can play in connecting nations.
For Pakistan, it is the story of a citizen who has carried the country's identity beyond its geographical borders.
For Korea, it is the story of a foreign-born resident who chose not merely to live in his adopted country but to contribute to its social and multicultural development.
And for Gilgit-Baltistan, it is a story of pride: one of its sons, educated at Cadet College Skardu, has travelled far from home yet continued to carry his homeland and country with him.
On 23 March 2027, when the Sitara-i-Imtiaz is placed on Zahid Hussain's chest, it will be an honour bestowed upon one individual. Yet its deeper symbolism will belong to all those who believe that cultural differences need not divide people, that diversity can enrich societies, and that individuals can build bridges where governments alone cannot.
For Zahid Hussain, the honour is therefore not a destination. It is another invitation to continue building bridges—between Pakistan and Korea, between cultures and communities, and ultimately between people.
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