Prof. Sajida Haider Vandal, the former Vice Chancellor of the Institute for Art and Culture and Principal of the National College of the Arts, and currently the CEO of THAAP, has been honored with another prestigious accolade, “The Rank of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters,” by the French Government.
This esteemed award follows her earlier recognition as a “Knight of Arts and Letters” in 2018. The Order of Arts and Letters, a significant distinction within the ministerial orders of the French Republic, acknowledges Prof. Vandal’s unwavering commitment to Pakistani culture and the fostering of bilateral cooperation between France and Pakistan.
The exclusive award ceremony took place at the THAAP secretariat, where His Excellency Mr. Nicolas Galey, the Ambassador of France to Pakistan, personally presented the coveted medal to Prof. Sajida Haider on a Sunday evening. The event was attended by distinguished personalities from various spheres of life.
In recognizing Prof. Vandal’s contributions, Ambassador Nicolas Galey expressed, “Today, France wishes to pay tribute to your dedication as an architect, urbanist, and educationist and to your contribution to the cultural life of the city of Lahore, as well as to your attachment to France and French culture.”
Prof. Sajida Vandal was nominated for this award by the French Embassy and the Ambassador of France. The Order of Arts and Letters, established in 1957, aims to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves through artistic or literary creations or through their contributions to the global influence of the Arts and Letters. Its purpose is to recognize significant contributions to the fields of arts, literature, or the promotion of these disciplines.
Expressing her gratitude, Prof. Sajida Vandal thanked the French government and Ambassador Nicolas Galey for conferring the award. She pledged to continue her efforts in heritage preservation and to further enhance bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and France.
