Civil decorations of Pakistan
Encyclopedia
The Pakistan Civil Awards were established on March 19, 1957, following the proclamation of Pakistan
as an independent
Republic
on March 23, 1956. The announcement of civil awards
is generally made once a year on Independence Day
, August 14, and their investiture takes place on the following Pakistan Day, 23 March. According to the Article 259(2) of the Constitution of Pakistan
1973, along with the Decorations Act 1975, the President of Pakistan
confers civil awards on Pakistan
i citizens in recognition of gallantry. Also, there awards for Pride of Performance
is conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of art
, literature
, science
, sports and nursing
. The Pride of Performance and the Orders of Bravery and Excellence are for Pakistani citizens only, but the remaining awards are open to all for eminence and outstanding services to Pakistan in a significant field of activity.
The Civil Awards comprise five Orders, each with four descending categories: Nishan
(Order; ), Hilal (Crescent; ), Sitara (Star
; ) and Tamgha
(Medal; ), as follows:
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as an independent
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
on March 23, 1956. The announcement of civil awards
Civil decoration
A civil decoration is a decoration awarded to civilians for distinguished service. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature...
is generally made once a year on Independence Day
Independence Day (Pakistan)
Pakistan's independence day is observed on 14 August, the day before Pakistan was made an independent country based on border lines created by the British during the end of their rule of India. Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. The day is a national holiday in Pakistan...
, August 14, and their investiture takes place on the following Pakistan Day, 23 March. According to the Article 259(2) of the Constitution of Pakistan
Constitution of Pakistan
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the supreme law of Pakistan. Known as the Constitution of 1973, it was drafted by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and, following additions by the opposition parties, was approved by the legislative assembly on April 10, 1973...
1973, along with the Decorations Act 1975, the President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
confers civil awards on Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i citizens in recognition of gallantry. Also, there awards for Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
is conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, sports and nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
. The Pride of Performance and the Orders of Bravery and Excellence are for Pakistani citizens only, but the remaining awards are open to all for eminence and outstanding services to Pakistan in a significant field of activity.
The Civil Awards comprise five Orders, each with four descending categories: Nishan
Nishan
Nishan is the name of the following people:* Saint Nishan, a saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church* Nishan Hindes, British model* Navneet Nishan, Indian actress* Nishan , Indian actor in Malayalam cinema...
(Order; ), Hilal (Crescent; ), Sitara (Star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
; ) and Tamgha
Tamgha
A tamga or tamgha "stamp, seal" is an abstract seal or stamp used by Eastern Eurasian nomadic peoples and by cultures influenced by them. The tamga was normally the emblem of a particular tribe, clan or family. They were common among the Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans, all Turkic peoples , and Mongols...
(Medal; ), as follows:
| Nishan-e-Pakistan Nishan-e-Pakistan The Nishan-e-Pakistan is the highest of civil awards and decorations given by the Government of Pakistan for the highest degree of service to the country and nation of Pakistan... (The Order of Pakistan) |
Nishan-e-Shujaat (The Order of Bravery) |
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (The Order of Excellence) |
Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam (The Order of the Great Leader) |
Nishan-e-Khidmat (The Order of Service) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nishan-e-Pakistan | Nishan-e-Shujaat | Nishan-e-Imtiaz | Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam | Nishan-e-Khidmat |
| Hilal-e-Pakistan | Hilal-e-Shujaat | Hilal-e-Imtiaz | Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam | Hilal-e-Khidmat |
| Sitara-e-Pakistan | Sitara-i-Shujaat | Sitara-i-Imtiaz Sitara-i-Imtiaz The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"... |
Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam | Sitara-i-Khidmat |
| Tamgha-i-Pakistan | Tamgha-i-Shuja’at | Tamgha-e-Imtiaz | Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam, or Medal of the Great Leader, is a civil award conferred by the Government of Pakistan on those who have attained academic distinction in the fields of science, art, literature, or distinction in the fields of sports and nursing; or for rendering dedicated services with... |
Tamgha-i-Khidmat Tamgha-i-Khidmat Tamgha-i-Khidmat or Tamgha-e-Khidmat, which translates as the medal of services , is 7th highest honour given by the Government of Pakistan to both the military and civilians.... |