Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, has been awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) by the President of the Republic of Pakistan for his lifelong contributions to interreligious dialogue, social welfare, and the protection of minority rights in the country.
The state honor was conferred during a ceremony held in Islamabad on March 23, where more than 100 individuals from diverse fields were recognized for their service to the nation, Fides News Agency reported.
The Medal of Excellence, one of the country’s prestigious civilian awards, is given to Pakistani or foreign citizens “who have distinguished themselves in public service to the country and contributed to improving the nation.”
In Cardinal Coutts’s case, the government acknowledged a decades-long pastoral ministry that included initiatives in healthcare, education, charity, and interfaith solidarity.
These efforts were “aimed at promoting community well-being throughout Pakistan,” according to the citation.
“His service to humanity and his role in uniting different faiths are a source of inspiration for all Pakistanis,” said President Ali Zardari during the award ceremony.
Born in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1971 for the clergy of Lahore, Cardinal Coutts has served in several key dioceses across Pakistan.
He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Hyderabad in 1988, became Bishop of Hyderabad in 1990, and later led the Diocese of Faisalabad from 1998.
In 2012, he assumed leadership of the Archdiocese of Karachi, where he served until his retirement in February 2021. He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis at the 2018 consistory.
Currently, Cardinal Coutts serves as the head of the Christian Studies Center in Rawalpindi. The ecumenical institution has been fostering interreligious dialogue and promoting social harmony in Pakistan for over five decades. He is the first Catholic to lead the center.
