The award was presented by *Sh. Rao Narbir Singh, Hon'ble Minister for Industries & Commerce, Government of Haryana, in the gracious presence of **Ms. Alba Smeriglio, British Deputy High Commissioner, who attended the ceremony as the **Guest of Honour. The event, jointly organised by the **Media Federation of India (MFI)* and the **Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), Chandigarh Chapter, brought together eminent personalities from government, industry, media, academia and the public relations fraternity to celebrate excellence across diverse fields.

A distinguished IAS officer with over three decades of exemplary public service, Mr. Rai has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership, integrity and administrative excellence. As Deputy Director (Administration), PGIMER Chandigarh, he has spearheaded several transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing patient-centric governance and institutional efficiency. In a short span of two years since inception in May, 2024, his pioneering initiative, *Project SARATHI*, has evolved into a nationally acclaimed model of volunteer-driven patient facilitation, significantly improving patient experience while fostering youth participation in healthcare.

Mr. Rai’s illustrious career spans key leadership positions in district administration, urban governance, health, education, information technology and public infrastructure, earning him numerous state and national honours, including the *National Award for Best Electoral Practice* and multiple other awards for governance innovation.

Congratulating Mr. Rai on the recognition, *Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER Chandigarh*, said:

> *"This prestigious recognition is a well-deserved tribute to Mr. Pankaj Rai's exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to public service and relentless pursuit of administrative excellence. His visionary approach has transformed governance at PGIMER through patient-centric initiatives like Project SARATHI, which have become benchmarks for compassionate and participatory healthcare. ."*

Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Pankaj Rai dedicated the award to the visionary leadership of Director Prof Vivek Lal and the entire PGIMER fraternity and acknowledged the collective efforts of colleagues, faculty, healthcare workers and volunteers who have contributed to the institution's continuous journey of excellence. He reaffirmed his commitment to transparent, innovative and compassionate governance that places patients and citizens at the centre of public service.

The honour marks yet another significant milestone in Mr. Rai's distinguished career and recognises his outstanding contribution to strengthening public institutions through innovation, integrity and people-centric governance.