Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces explained

The awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize a service member's service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career. A few of these medals and awards are also given to or have in the past been given to Pakistani civil service officers or civilians with special government permission.[1]

Decorations

Wartime gallantry medals

Nishan-e-Haider (Order of the Lion)
Hilal-e-Jurat (Crescent of Courage)
Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)
Tamgha-e-Jurat (Medal of Courage)
Imtiazi Sanad (Mentioned in Despatches)[2]

Peacetime distinguished service medals

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence)Awarded to four-star Generals and equivalent when considered appropriate by the Government of Pakistan
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)Awarded to major generals & above or equivalent, for excellence of work/spontaneous meritorious acts
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)Awarded to colonel & above, for excellence of work/spontaneous meritorious service or on completion of 18 years of service
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Medal of Excellence)Awarded to lieutenant colonel & above, for excellence of work/spontaneous meritorious service or on completion of 12 years of service
Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-I) (Medal of Service Class I)Admissible to junior commissioned officers (JCOs) only who are in receiptof Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Class-II) award for rendering long meritorious or distinguished service of a non-operational nature
Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-II) (Medal of Service Class II)Admissible to junior commissioned officers (JCOs) only for long meritorious or distinguished service of a non-operational nature
Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-III) (Medal of Service Class III)Awarded to non-commissioned officers/other ranks for long meritorious or distinguished service of a non-operational nature
Golden Eagle Award Awarded to exceptional fighter pilots of the Pakistan Air Force

Civil Gallantry Awards

Nishan-e-Shujaat (Order of Bravery)
Hilal-e-Shujaat (Crescent of Bravery)
Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery)
Tamgha-e-Shujaat (Medal of Bravery)

Non-Operational Gallantry Awards

Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valour)A gallantry award admissible to all ranks for acts of valour, courage & devotion to duty though not on active operations against the enemy
Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Valour)Admissible to all ranks for acts of valour, courage & devotion to duty though not on active operations against the enemy

Campaign / war medals

Tamgha-e-Diffa (Defence Medal)A general campaign medal and is awarded along with a clasp to all ranks who take part in minor operations or campaigns within laid down period, dates and prescribed qualifying area.
Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)This medal was awarded to the Armed Forces personnel who took part in the 1965 war in the prescribed area of the operations.
Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)This medal was awarded to the Armed Forces personnel who took part in the 1971 war in the prescribed area of the operations.
Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)A war medal and was awarded to the Armed Forces personnel who were in service during the period of hostilities during the 1965 war.
Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)A war medal and was awarded to the Armed Forces personnel who were in service during the period of hostilities during the 1971 war.
Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal - 2002)Awarded to all the military servicemen on Active-Duty during the 2001-2002 Standoff with India.
Tamgha-e-Azm (Medal of Conviction) Awarded to military/civil armed officials in 2018 for services rendered in War on Terrorism.

Long service medals

10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal
30 Years Service Medal
35 Years Service Medal
40 Years Service Medal

Wound stripes

Golden Wound Strip All serving personnel of the Armed Forces seriously or severely wounded during war or operations due to enemy's action while on border defence duties are eligible for the strip.
Red Wound Strip All serving personnel of the Armed Forces wounded during war or operations due to enemy's action while on border defence duties are eligible for the strip.

Commemorative medals

Pakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal) - 1947Instituted to celebrate the emergence of Pakistan on 14 August 1947.
Tamgha-e-qayam-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) - 1956Instituted on the eve of Pakistan becoming a republic on 23 March 1956.
Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) - 1976

Instituted to celebrate the birth centenary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on 25 December 1976.

Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) - 1979Instituted to celebrate the completion of the fourteenth centenary Hijri (Islamic Calendar) on 22 November 1979.
President's Award for Pride of Performance - 1982
Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) - 1988Instituted to celebrate the return of democracy in Pakistan.
Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal)[3] - 1990Instituted to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Lahore Resolution
Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) - 1997Instituted to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Pakistan
Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) - 1998Instituted to celebrate the successful testing of a nuclear bomb at Chagai.
Sitara-e-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice)[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] - 2006Awarded for outstanding humanitarian services in the wake of the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan
Tamgha-e-Eisaar (Medal of Sacrifice) - 2006Awarded for outstanding humanitarian services in the wake of the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan
Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Instructor's Medal (2005)
Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Student's Medal (2005)

Order of wearing

PrecedenceAward nameRibbon
1Nishan-e-Haider (Order of Haider)
2Nishan-e-Pakistan (Order of Pakistan)
3Nishan-e-Shujaat (Order of Bravery)
4Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Order of Excellence)
5Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence)
6Nishan-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Order of the Great Leader)
7Nishan-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Order of Service)
8Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan)
9Hilal-e-Jurat (Crescent of Courage)
10Hilal-e-Shujaat (Crescent of Bravery)
11Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Crescent of Excellence)
12Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)
13Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Crescent of the Great Leader)
14Hilal-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Crescent of Service)
15Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan)
16Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)
17Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery)
18Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Star of Excellence)
19Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)
20Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Star of the Great Leader)
21President's Award for Pride of Performance
22Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct)
23Sitara-e-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice)
24Sitara-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Star of Service)
25Tamgha-e-Jurat (Medal of Courage)
26Tamgha-e-Shujaat (Medal of Bravery)
27Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Medal of Excellence)
28Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Medal of Excellence)
29Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Medal of the Great Leader)
30Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Good Conduct)
31Tamgha-e-Eisaar (Medal of Sacrifice)
32Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Medal of Service)
33Imtiazi Sanad (Mentioned in Despatches)
34Tamgha-e-Diffa (Defence Medal)
35Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)
36Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)
37Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)
38Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)
39Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) - 1998
40Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal) - 2002
41Tamgha-e-Azm (Medal of Conviction)
42Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-I) (Medal of Service Class I)
43Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-II) (Medal of Service Class II)
44Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-III) (Medal of Service Class III)
4510 Years Service Medal
4620 Years Service Medal
4730 Years Service Medal
4835 Years Service Medal
4940 Years Service Medal
50Pakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal) - 1947
51Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam(100th birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) - 1976
52Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) - 1956
53Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) - 1979
54Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) - 1988
55Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha(Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) - 1990
56Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan(Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) - 1997
57Command and Staff College Quetta Instructor's Medal - (2005)
58Command and Staff College Quetta Student's Medal - (2005)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. The Government of Pakistan, Cabinet Division Gazette, 1988 November, Sec C-109, pp. 11–12.
  2. Web site: Honours and Awards . 2022-10-11 . www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk.
  3. This special commemorative medal of the Pakistan Resolution, 1940-1990, was also given in a limited edition to some civil service officers and also relations/descendants of those Muslim League leaders who actually signed the Pakistan Resolution in 1940. Ref A.Z. Shaikh, A Booklet on Some Commemorative Awards of the Government of Pakistan, 1947-1997 Islamabad: National Archives of Pakistan pubs, 1997, p 9
  4. Web site: 1 July 2006 . Awards conferred for earthquake relief work . 6 April 2022 . DAWN.COM.
  5. Web site: Government of Punjab . Pakistan . 1 July 2006 . Recipients of Sitara-e-Eisaar and Tamgha-e-Eisaar . 6 April 2022 . digitallibrary.punjab.gov.pk.
  6. Web site: Musharraf gives away rescue, relief awards – Business Recorder . 6 April 2022.
  7. Web site: Earthquake relief work: Musharraf confers awards on outstanding Americans – Business Recorder . 6 April 2022.
  8. Web site: Soldiers honored for Pakistan earthquake relief . 6 April 2022 . www.army.mil.