Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces

Last updated August 22, 2025

The awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize a service member's service and personal accomplishments while being a member of the Pakistan Armed Forces. These awards are awarded only to those who show absolute bravery, dedication, loyalty and commitment towards the service and nation- Pakistan.

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)^[1]

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 receipt of 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)- 1947 Instituted to celebrate the emergence of Pakistan on 14 August 1947.
	Tamgha-e-qayam-e-Jamhuria(Republic Commemoration Medal)- 1956 Instituted 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)- 1979 Instituted 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)- 1988 Instituted to celebrate the return of democracy in Pakistan.
	Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha(Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal)^[2]- 1990 Instituted to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Lahore Resolution
	Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan(Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) - 1997 Instituted to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Pakistan
	Tamgha-e-Baqa(Nuclear Test Medal)- 1998 Instituted to celebrate the successful testing of a nuclear bomb at Chagai.
	Sitara-e-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice)^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] - 2006 Awarded for outstanding humanitarian services in the wake of the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan
	Tamgha-e-Eisaar (Medal of Sacrifice)^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] - 2006 Awarded 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

Precedence	Award name	Ribbon
1	Nishan-e-Haider (Order of Haider)
2	Nishan-e-Pakistan (Order of Pakistan)
3	Nishan-e-Shujaat (Order of Bravery)
4	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Order of Excellence)
5	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence)
6	Nishan-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Order of the Great Leader)
7	Nishan-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Order of Service)
8	Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan)
9	Hilal-e-Jurat (Crescent of Courage)
10	Hilal-e-Shujaat (Crescent of Bravery)
11	Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Crescent of Excellence)
12	Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)
13	Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Crescent of the Great Leader)
14	Hilal-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Crescent of Service)
15	Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan)
16	Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)
17	Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery)
18	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian)(Star of Excellence)
19	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)
20	Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Star of the Great Leader)
21	President's Award for Pride of Performance
22	Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct)
23	Sitara-e-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice)
24	Sitara-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Star of Service)
25	Tamgha-e-Jurat (Medal of Courage)
26	Tamgha-e-Shujaat (Medal of Bravery)
27	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Civilian)(Medal of Excellence)
28	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Medal of Excellence)
29	Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Medal of the Great Leader)
30	Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Good Conduct)
31	Tamgha-e-Eisaar (Medal of Sacrifice)
32	Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Medal of Service)
33	Imtiazi Sanad (Mentioned in Despatches)
34	Tamgha-e-Diffa (Defence Medal)
35	Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)
36	Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)
37	Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)
38	Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)
39	Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal)- 1998
40	Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal) -2002
41	Tamgha-e-Azm (Medal of Conviction)
42	Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-I) (Medal of Service Class I)
43	Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-II) (Medal of Service Class II)
44	Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-III) (Medal of Service Class III)
45	10 Years Service Medal
46	20 Years Service Medal
47	30 Years Service Medal
48	35 Years Service Medal
49	40 Years Service Medal
50	Pakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal)- 1947
51	Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah)- 1976
52	Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal)- 1956
53	Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)- 1979
54	Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal)- 1988
55	Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) - 1990
56	Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) - 1997
57	Command and Staff College Quetta Instructor's Medal - (2005)
58	Command and Staff College Quetta Student's Medal - (2005)

References

↑ "Honours and Awards". www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
↑ 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
1 2 "Awards conferred for earthquake relief work". DAWN.COM. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
1 2 Government of Punjab, Pakistan (1 July 2006). "Recipients of Sitara-e-Eisaar and Tamgha-e-Eisaar" (PDF). digitallibrary.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
1 2 "Musharraf gives away rescue, relief awards – Business Recorder" . Retrieved 6 April 2022.
1 2 "Earthquake relief work: Musharraf confers awards on outstanding Americans – Business Recorder" . Retrieved 6 April 2022.
1 2 "Soldiers honored for Pakistan earthquake relief". www.army.mil. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

External links

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[honours-1] "Honours and Awards". www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 11 October 2022.

[2] 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

[:0-3] 1 2 "Awards conferred for earthquake relief work". DAWN.COM. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[:1-4] 1 2 Government of Punjab, Pakistan (1 July 2006). "Recipients of Sitara-e-Eisaar and Tamgha-e-Eisaar" (PDF). digitallibrary.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[:2-5] 1 2 "Musharraf gives away rescue, relief awards – Business Recorder" . Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[:3-6] 1 2 "Earthquake relief work: Musharraf confers awards on outstanding Americans – Business Recorder" . Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[:4-7] 1 2 "Soldiers honored for Pakistan earthquake relief". www.army.mil. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

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v t e Pakistan honours and military decorations
Gallantry awards	Nishan-i-Haider Medal (Sign of the Lion; 1st highest award) Hilal-i-Jur'at Medal (Crescent of Courage; 2nd highest award) Sitara-i-Jur'at Medal (Star of Courage; 3rd highest award) Tamgha-i-Jur'at (Medal of Courage; 4th highest award) Imtiazi Sanad Medal (Mention in Despatches; 5th highest award)
Non-operational awards (without enemy engagement)	Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valour) Tamgha-i-Basalat (Medal of Valour) Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Class I) (Medal of Service; military) Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Class II) (Medal of Service; military) Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Class III) (Medal of Service; military)
Civilian military awards	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence) Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence; civilian) Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence; civilian) Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence; civilian) Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Medal of Service; civilian)