The ceremony was attended among others by Federal Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Secretary General to President Salman Faruqui, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJSCS) General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, senior officials and officers from the armed forces.
The citation read on the occasion said that Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) was being conferred on the Naval Chief in recognition of his long meritorious services. Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila is also recipient of the award of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Chevalier de I' Ordre National de Merite.