German humanitarian Anita Khawaja receives top German honour in Pakistan

Anita Khawaja, a German citizen residing in Sialkot, has been awarded the prestigious Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in recognition of her decades-long humanitarian and social welfare services in Pakistan.

The award was conferred by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and formally presented during a ceremony hosted by Embassy of Germany in Pakistan. Germany’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Ina Lepel, handed over the Cross of Merit (1st Class) medal to Anita Khawaja during a reception attended by her family, friends, journalists and other recipients of German state honours living in Pakistan.

According to the German Embassy, Anita Khawaja first arrived in Pakistan in 1971 through a German overseas service programme as a young nurse. She worked at the Christian Memorial Hospital in Sialkot, where she trained midwives and traditional birth attendants, helping improve maternal and child healthcare in the region.

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After marrying the late Muhammad Anwar Khawaja in 1975, she continued working for disadvantaged communities. In 1982, she established an Under-Five Healthcare Clinic at Bethania Hospital to combat child malnutrition and support early childhood health.

Later, in 1996, Anita Khawaja developed the corporate social responsibility programme of Anwar Khawaja Industries through the Select Anwar Khawaja Industries Health and Education Programme (SAHEP). The initiative has provided free healthcare, education and adult literacy opportunities to thousands of workers and their families, particularly football stitchers in Sialkot.

German officials praised her lifelong dedication, saying her efforts have significantly improved the lives of vulnerable communities and contributed to reducing child labour in the region.