The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is very pleased to announce that the President of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain has conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) on Mr. Mushtaq Chhapra, Co-Founder and Director of TCF, for his exemplary efforts in public service. Sitara-e-Imtiaz is one of the highest civil honours in Pakistan.

A believer in the transformative power of education as the only solution to the socio-economic challenges facing Pakistan, Mr. Mushtaq Chhapra and five other friends founded TCF in 1995 and set themselves an ambitious goal of establishing 1,000 school units across Pakistan. While many questioned the wisdom of chasing such an audacious target, the founders, and the team they gathered, pursued the dream with single-minded focus and belief. In the words of the man himself, “We need a little bit of insanity to do great things.” Today, TCF runs 1,202 schools providing affordable, quality education to 175,000 children in 57 districts all over the country.

Mr. Mushtaq Chhapra has played a pivotal role in TCF’s journey during the past 21 years, including a stint as the Chairman of the Board for six years. Driven by a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of the less-privileged, Mr. Chhapra’s active engagement with social work is not limited to TCF. He is also one of the founding members at the Patients’ Aid Foundation and The Kidney Centre and serves as a board member at both organizations.

We are and will remain indebted to Mushtaq Sb. for his selfless devotion to the children of Pakistan and his unwavering belief in their potential to transform the future of their families, their communities and this country.