Civilian & Military Awards:

Civilian & Military Awards

Civil Awards of Pakistan 

In pursuance of Article 2592 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, read with the Decorations Act, 1975, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan confers civil awards on the citizens of Pakistan in recognition of gallantry, academic distinction or distinction in the fields of sports or nursing. The scope of the awards is as follows:

§   a Gallantry means an act of bravery, heroism, courage and the rendering of dedicated services with selfless devotion in human rights and public service.

§   Academic distinction includes:

·   Research, achievement or performance in Medicine, Science, Engineering, Technology, Philosophy, History, Literature or the Arts, and

·   An invention of national importance.

In addition, the President’s Awards for Pride of Performance can be conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of Art, Literature, Science, Sports and Nursing.

Citizens of Pakistan are eligible for awards in the Order of Shuja’at, Imtiaz and President’s Awards for Pride of Performance while foreign nationals can be given civil awards in any Order for eminence and outstanding services to Pakistan in a significant field of activity.

The announcement of civil awards is generally made once a year on Independence Day, 14th of August, and their investiture takes place on the following Pakistan Day, 23rd of March.

Pakistan Civil Awards, instituted in 1958, comprise following five Orders.

1. The Order of Pakistan
2. The Order of Shuja’at
3. The Order of Imtiaz
4. The Order of Quaid-i-Azam
5. The Order of Khidmat

Each Order has four descending categories namely, Nishan, Hilal and Tamgha. The seniority of the Awards, including the President’s Pride of Performance Awards, is as follows:

01- Nishan-i-Pakistan *
02- Nishan-i-Shuja’at *
03- Nishan-i-Imtiaz *
04- Nishan-j-Quajd-j-Azam *
05- Nishan-i-Khidmat *
06- Hilal-i-Pakistan
07- Hilal-i-Shuja’at
08- Hilal-i-Imtiaz
09- Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam
10- Hilal-i-Khidmat
11- Sitara-i-Pakistan
12- Sitara-i-Shuja at
13- Sitara-i-Imtiaz
14- President’s Award for Pride of Performance *
15- Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam
16- Sitara-i-Khidmat
17- Tamgha-i-Pakistan
18- Tamgha-i-Shija’at
19- Tamgha-i-Imtiaz
20- Tamgha-i-Quaid-i-Azam
21- Tamgha-i-Khidmat

*Established: 19 March 1957, modified 1975?? and 5 June 1986

*Established: The third and fourth classes were established on 19 March 1957 and the first and second classes added in 1960.

*Established on 13th January 1983 by president Zia-Ul-Haq

Military Awards of Pakistan 

Nishan-e-Haider *(The Order of Haider) نشان حیدر
This is Pakistan's highest decoration for the greatest acts of bravery in battle. The decoration may be awarded to any member of Pakistan's armed forces, regardless of rank or branch of service, for extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy. It is, therefore, in the same category as Great Britain's Victoria Cross.  Recipients of Nishan-e-Haider

Hilal-i-Jur'at *(Crescent of Courage)
Awarded to officers for acts of valor, courage, or devotion to duty in the face of the enemy.

Sitara-i-Jur'at *(Star of Courage)
Awarded to officers, junior commissioned officers, and warrant officers for gallantry and distinguished services in the face of the enemy. The decoration is roughly comparable to the British Military Cross.

Tamgha-i-Jur'at *(Medal of Courage)
Awarded to non-commissioned officers and enlisted men for gallantry and distinguished services in the face of the enemy. The decoration is roughly comparable to the British Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Tamgha-i-Basalat* (Medal of Good Conduct)
Awarded to all ranks of the Pakistani military for valor, courage, or devotion to duty while not in combat.

Sitara-i-Basalat* (Star of Good Conduct)
Awarded to all ranks of the Pakistani military for valor, courage, or devotion to duty while not in combat.
 

*Established: 16 March 1957, by the President of Pakistan.