The ''Hilal-e-Imtiaz'' (; ), also spelled as ''Hilal-i-Imtiaz,'' is the second-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") civilian award and honour given to both civilians and military

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

s of the

Pakistan Armed Forces The Pakistan Armed Forces (; ) are the military forces of Pakistan. It is the world's sixth-largest military measured by active military personnel and consists of three uniformed services—the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, which are backe ...

by the

Government of Pakistan The Government of Pakistan () (abbreviated as GoP), constitutionally known as the Federal Government, commonly known as the Centre, is the national authority of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a federal republic located in South Asia, con ...

. It recognises individuals who have made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors". It is a civilian award, and not limited to the citizens of Pakistan. The honour is restricted to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their fields that led to international recognition for the state. It is awarded in the fields of

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creativity, creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive ...

sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...

medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

and

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

for civilians. It is announced every year on

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...

(14 August), and given on

Pakistan Day Pakistan Day (, lit. ''Yaum-e-Pakistan'') is a national holiday in Pakistan primarily commemorating the adoption of the first Constitution of Pakistan during the transition of the Dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 23 ...

, 23 March, by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

. For officers in the military, it is given for distinguished service. The first Hilal-e-Imtiaz Military in the history of Pakistan was awarded by PM ZA Bhutto to 4 star General

Zia ul Haq Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (12 August 192417 August 1988) was a Pakistani military officer and statesman who served as the sixth president of Pakistan from 1978 until his death in an airplane crash in 1988. He also served as the second chief of ...

after Zia was appointed Chief of the Army in 1976. Initially awarded exclusively to officers reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense, after 1979 it began to be award in a new format to officers who were up to two steps removed from the Secretary of Defense, such as Major General or

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

(

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometime ...

s or Air Marshals (

Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...

) and

Rear-Admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

Vice-Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of vic ...

(

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...

, and

Marines Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included Raid (military), raiding ashor ...

). The

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

's committee for award and recognition services selects the names of individuals and sends their report to the prime minister; on his advice, the president announces the awards in a ceremony that is broadcast by PTV. The award is usually given to individuals, not groups, because the purpose of the award is to recognise the recipients' individual contributions. The award is a disc of golden

jasminum Jasmine (botanical name: ''Jasminum'', pronounced ) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family of Oleaceae. It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Jasmines are wide ...

between the five points of a pure gold star. The star has additional bright jasminum; in its centre there is a green emerald with a golden

crescent A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase (as it appears in the northern hemisphere) in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hindu iconography, Hind ...

. A special grade of the medal has a larger execution of the same medal design worn as a star on the left of the chest. In addition, it is worn as a sash on the right shoulder, with its rosette (yellow with white for civilians and green for military officers) and white and yellow edge bearing the central disc of the medal at its centre, resting on the left hip. At the ceremony, both medals can be worn at the same time according to their achievements. The medal is suspended on a dark green ribbon with a light yellow and white central stripe and white edge stripes. Military officers who receive the award are given a Non-Prohibited Bore Arms License.

Grades of the Order of Imtiaz

This award is the 2nd Grade in the Order of Imtiaz (Excellence). The four Grades in the Order of Imtiaz are: # ''

Nishan-e-Imtiaz The Nishan-e-Imtiaz (; ) is one of the state organized Civil decorations of Pakistan, civil decorations of Pakistan. It is awarded for achievements towards world recognition for Pakistan or outstanding service for the country. However, the awa ...

'' (Order of Excellence; ) # ''Hilal-e-Imtiaz'' (Crescent of Excellence; ) # ''

Sitara-i-Imtiaz The Sitara-e-Imtiaz () also spelled as Sitara-i-Imtiaz, is the third-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") honour and Civil decorations of Pakistan, civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes individuals who have made an "especially me ...

'' (Star of Excellence; ) # ''

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (), also spelled as Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, is a state-organised honour of Pakistan. It is given to any civilian in Pakistan based on their achievements. While it is a civilian/military award, it can be bestowed upon officers of the ...

'' (Medal of Excellence; ).

Service Ribbon insignia

The ribbon for the

Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) The ''Hilal-e-Imtiaz'' (; ), also spelled as ''Hilal-i-Imtiaz,'' is the second-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") civilian award and honour given to both civilians and military officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces by the Government of Pakist ...

is: * Yellow with a white centre band and a narrow Pakistan Green stripe in the middle. The ribbon for the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) is: * White edges with Pakistan Green centre band and a single white stripe in the middle.

Recipients

Sadia Rashid Sadia Rashid (born 1946) is a Pakistani educationist who is the current president of Hamdard Pakistan, chancellor of the Hamdard University and president of the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA). Early life She was born in 1946 in Sit ...

(2024), Educationist *

Arshad Nadeem Arshad Nadeem (Punjabi language, Punjabi / ; ; born 2 January 1997) is a Pakistanis, Pakistani javelin thrower. He is the reigning Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's javelin throw, Olympic, 2025 Asian Athletics Championships � ...

(2024), Athlete, Olympic gold medallist in Javelin throw * Cardinal Joseph Coutts (2024) * Shahid Mahmood Baig, FPAS (2023), for contributions in the field of Science * Former Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi (2023) for his dedication to Public Service *

Adil Najam Adil Najam () is a Pakistani academic who also serves as the global President of WWF, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (starting July 2023), and is Dean Emerıtus and Professor of International Relations and Earth and Environment at the Pardee ...

(2023), for contributions to Environment and Education * Syed Babar Ali (2023), Philanthropist *

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (, ; born 9 December 1974) is a Pakistani Punjabi singer, primarily Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music. Khan is one of the most popular and highest paid singers in Pakistan. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Kha ...

(2023), Singer and Qawalli * Amjad Saqib (2024), Social Development *

Amjad Islam Amjad Amjad Islam Amjad, Pride of Performance, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz (; 4 August 1944 – 10 February 2023) was a Pakistani Professor, Urdu poet, screenwriter, playwright and lyricist.Ally Adnan (September 2016), The author of more than ...

(2022), Poet * Bilquis Edhi (2022) * Li Xiaopeng (2022) former Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China * Rohail Hyatt (2021) *

Kishwar Naheed Kishwar Naheed () (born 18 June 1940)In official documents her date of birth is recorded as 3 February 1940 which is not correct. is a feminist Urdu poet and writer from Pakistan. She has written several poetry books. She has also received awar ...

(2021) * Asif Mahmood Jah (2021) * Song Tao (2020) Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council/Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of the CCP *

Mohammad Asad Durrani (Director General

Inter-Services Intelligence The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is the premier Pakistani Intelligence community, intelligence agency of Pakistan. It is responsible for gathering, processing, and analyzing any information from around the world that is deemed relevant t ...

) * Abdul Bari Khan (2019) *Zaheer Ayub Baig (2019) *Ghulam Asghar (2019) * Tasawar Hayat (2019) *

Wasim Akram Wasim Akram (Punjabi language, Punjabi, ; born 3 June 1966) is a Pakistani cricket commentator, Coach (sport), coach, and former cricketer and captain (cricket), captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Akram is regarded as one of the ...

(2019) *

Waqar Younis Waqar Younis Maitla HI ( Punjabi, ; born 16 November 1971) is a Pakistani cricket coach, commentator and former cricketer who captained Pakistan national cricket team. A right-arm fast bowler, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowle ...

(2019) * Recep Akdag (Turkey-2019) * Michael Jansen (Germany-2019) * Hussain Dawood (Business and

Philanthropy Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

) (2018) * Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas (2015) *Mahmood Qureshi (2013) *

Anwar Maqsood Anwar Maqsood Hameedi (born 7 September 1939; ), popularly known as Anwar Maqsood, is a Pakistani scriptwriter, television presenter, satirist, humorist, and infrequent actor. He is well known for his drama write-ups for PTV in the late 1970 ...

(Scriptwriter) (2013) * Faiz Hameed (general) (2013) *

Abida Parveen Abida Parveen (; ; born 20 February 1954) is a Pakistani singer, composer, musician of Sufi music, painter and an entrepreneur. Parveen is one of the highest-paid singers in Pakistan. Her singing and music have earned her many accolades, and s ...

(musician and Sufi music performer) (2013) *

Josh Malihabadi Josh Malihabadi (born Shabbir Hasan Khan; 5 December 1898 – 22 February 1982) popularly known as Shayar-e-Inqalab (poet of revolution) was Indian born Pakistani Urdu poet. Known for his liberal values and challenging the established o ...

(1894–1982) Urdu poet (2013) *

Abdul Hafeez Kardar Abdul Hafeez Kardar PP, HI () (17 January 1925 – 21 April 1996) was a Pakistani cricketer, politician, and diplomat. He was the first captain of the Pakistan cricket team and one of only three players to have played Test cricket for both I ...

(1925–1996) former

Pakistan Cricket Team The Pakistan men's national cricket team represents Pakistan in international cricket. It is controlled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the governing body for cricket in Pakistan, which is a Full Member of the International Cricket Counc ...

captain (2013) * Ansar Burney (Human and civil rights activist) (2013)Ansar Burney and Zia Mohyeddin awards info on Dawn (newspaper)
Published 14 August 2012, Retrieved 10 November 2018 *

Zia Mohyeddin Zia Mohyeddin (; 20 June 1931 – 13 February 2023) was a British-Pakistani film actor, producer, director, and television broadcaster who appeared in both Pakistani cinema and television, as well as in British cinema and television throughout ...

(actor, television anchor and broadcaster) (2013) * Azhar Abbas (journalist) (2013) *

Khalid Abbas Dar Khalid Abbas Dar (born 1942) is an actor, playwright, director, theatre producer, entertainer, mimic, one-man show and a television host in Pakistan. His career has been spanning over five decades. Early life Dar was born in 1942 into the fa ...

(actor, playwright, anchor, entertainer, director, theatre producer, mimic) (2013) * Abdul Halim Mohd Hanifah (

Royal Brunei Navy The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), natively known as (TLDB) is the naval force of Brunei. It is a small but relatively well-equipped military force whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue missions, and to deter and defend the Bru ...

commander) (2012) * Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary (Organic chemist) (2007) * Iftikhar Arif (poet, scholar and literary critic) (2006) *

Ashfaq Ahmed Ashfaq Ahmed (; 22 August 1925 – 7 September 2004) was a Pakistani writer, playwright and broadcaster. His works in Urdu included novels, short stories and plays for Pakistan Television Corporation, Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan. H ...

(1925–2004) (writer, playwright and television broadcaster) (2006)182 Pakistan Civil Awards conferred
Business Recorder (newspaper), Published 24 March 2006, Retrieved 10 November 2018 *Halbi Mohd Yusof ( Royal Brunei Armed Forces commander) (2006) * Faridullah Khan (politician) (2005) * Mushtaq Ahmed Yousfi (writer) (2002) *

Jansher Khan Jansher Khan (Pashto: جان شیر خان; born 15 June 1969) is a Pakistani former professional squash player. During his career, he won the World Open a record eight times and the British Open six times. He was the world's number-one-r ...

(Squash Legend) (1997) *

Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. He was the founder of the political party Pak ...

(Sports) 1992 *

A. Q. Khan Abdul Qadeer Khan (1 April 1936 – 10 October 2021) was a Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer. He is colloquially known as the "father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program". A Muhajir emigrant from India who migrated t ...

(Nuclear scientist) 1989 *

Munir Ahmad Khan Munir Ahmad Khan (; 20 May 1926 – 22 April 1999), , was a Pakistani nuclear engineer who is credited, among others, with being the "father of the atomic bomb program" of Pakistan for their leading role in developing their nation's nuclear we ...

(Nuclear Science) 1989 *

Mian Muhammad Afzaal (Shaheed) (Military) 1987 *

Hamoodur Rahman Chief Justice Hamoodur Rahman (; 1 November 1910 – 20 December 1981), . , was a Pakistani Bengali jurist and an academic who served as the Chief Justice of Pakistan from 18 November 1968 until 31 October 1975. Educated in law and trai ...

(academic) 1984 * Ruth Pfau (Humanitarian) 1979 * Major General S A Nawab (Military) 1979 * Admiral Mohammad Shariff (Military) 1979 * General Zia ul Haq (Military) 1976 * Anwar Masood (2024), Poet

References

External links

Decorations and Medals of Pakistan
{{Military of Pakistan 1957 establishments in Pakistan Civil awards and decorations of Pakistan Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz Military awards and decorations of Pakistan

Grades of the Order of Imtiaz

Service Ribbon insignia

Recipients

See also

References

External links