HOUSTON: Pakistani-American community leader Muhammad Saeed Sheikh has been honoured with the first-ever ILF “Pride of Pakistan” Award at the Pakistan Literature Festival 2026 in Houston.
The award was presented during the prestigious gathering attended by distinguished intellectuals, poets, journalists and prominent personalities from Pakistan and around the world.
In a statement after receiving the award, Sheikh said he was deeply honoured and humbled by the recognition. He expressed his sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Ghazanfar Hashmi, President of the International Academy of Letters USA, and the entire organizing team for successfully organizing the festival.
The third Pakistan Literature Festival, organized by the International Academy of Letters USA, was held on October 31 and November 1, 2026 in Sugar Land and Stafford in the Houston area, bringing together writers, poets, journalists, intellectuals and artists from Pakistan, the United States and Canada. The festival featured discussions on Urdu literature, Pakistani culture, journalism, cinema, television drama and social issues facing Pakistan.
Sheikh thanked the organizers for their dedicated efforts in promoting Pakistani literature, culture and intellectual exchange on an international platform, describing the festival as a remarkable celebration of Pakistan’s rich literary and cultural heritage.
Sheikh, who serves as President of the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association, has over four decades of public and humanitarian service. He was earlier conferred Pakistan’s Sitara-e-Khidmat by President Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of his humanitarian and community work.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire had also declared July 21, 2026 as “Muhammad Saeed Sheikh Day” in recognition of his longstanding humanitarian initiatives and efforts to strengthen friendship between Pakistan and the United States.
