Dr. James Shera, a prominent Pakistani politician and educationist who formerly served as Mayor of Rugby in the UK, has been awarded the Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam civil award on the occasion of Pakistan's diamond jubilee of independence. Dr Shera has been previously awarded the Sitar-e-Pakistan, MBE, and other honors for his exceptional contributions to politics, interfaith harmony, community cohesion, education, and healthcare. He is the first Pakistani to have been elected as a Mayor in the UK and has served on the boards of Coventry University and Newman University Birmingham, among others. Dr Shera attributes his success to his efforts to build bridges between communities and his commitment to serving the community without discrimination.