ISLAMABAD — Anita Khawaja has been awarded the Cross of Merit (1st Class) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in recognition of her decades-long contributions to healthcare, education and social welfare in Sialkot.

The honour was conferred by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and formally presented during a ceremony in Islamabad by Ina Lepel.

According to the German Embassy, Anita Khawaja was recognized for her lifelong efforts to improve healthcare and educational opportunities for football stitchers, women and disadvantaged communities in Sialkot.

The ceremony was attended by members of her family, friends, representatives of the media and other recipients of Germany’s Federal Order of Merit living in Pakistan.

Born in Berlin in 1941, Anita Khawaja first arrived in Pakistan in 1971 through Germany’s “Dienste in Übersee” programme, where she worked as a nurse training midwives and traditional birth attendants at the Christian Memorial Hospital in Sialkot.

Officials said her work helped improve maternal and child healthcare in the district by contributing to reductions in infant and maternal mortality.

After marrying the late Muhammad Anwar Khawaja in 1975, she continued working on social welfare and healthcare initiatives in Pakistan.

In 1982, she established an Under-Five Healthcare Clinic at Bethania Hospital focused on preventing child malnutrition and improving healthcare access for children.

She also worked as a social worker for women inmates at the district jail in Sialkot.

SAHEP programme expanded healthcare and education access

In 1996, Anwar Khawaja Industries asked Anita Khawaja to develop its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Through the Select Anwar Khawaja Industries Health and Education Programme (SAHEP), thousands of workers and their families gained access to free healthcare, education and adult literacy programmes.

According to the German Embassy, the programme also contributed to reducing child labour by improving access to education for children connected to the football manufacturing industry.

Anita Khawaja continues to lead the SAHEP initiative and remains involved in community welfare work in Sialkot.