Hilal-e-Pakistan

Neck Medal for Hilal-e-Pakistan

Breast Star for the Hilal-e-Pakistan
TypeNational Civilian
CountryPakistan Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented by

Government of Pakistan
Post-nominalsH.Pk
EstablishedMarch 19, 1957
First awarded1957
Last awarded2022
Precedence
Next (higher)Nishan-e-Pakistan
EquivalentHilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian)
Next (lower)Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian)
Hilal-e-Pakistan award recipients
Year Number of recipients
19xx
2
1957–1995
6
2005–2008
4
2010–2019
10
2020–2029
3

Hilal-e-Pakistan (lit. 'Crescent of Pakistan')[1] is the second-highest civil award (in the hierarchy of "Hilal")[2] of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.[3][4] The award seeks to recognize those people who have made "meritorious contribution to the national interests of Pakistan, or cultural, social contribution, or other significant public or private endeavors". The award is not limited to Pakistani citizens. While it is a civilian award, it can also be conferred upon foreign nationals.[5][6] It is bestowed by the president of Pakistan once a year on the eve of Independence day.[7][8][9]

History

Hilal-e-Pakistan and other civil awards came into existence following the independence of Pakistan on March 23, 1956. However, civil awards including Hilal-e-Pakistan were established on March 19, 1957 under the article 259(2) of the Constitution of Pakistan and Decorations Act, 1975. Hilal-e-Pakistan, the second-highest civil award[10] was possibly first conferred upon Chief justice of Dhaka high court, Amin Ahmed.[7][11]

Policy

President of Pakistan confers civil awards under the Article 259(2) of the constitution-1973 and decorations Article-1975 in recognition of meritorious contribution and selfless devotion.[12][13]

Previous Versions of Hilal-e-Pakistan

Notable recipients

Year Image Awardees State / Country Note
— Ayub Khan  Pakistan Awarded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in recognition of playing a key role as a spokesperson at UN.[14]
— Akhtar Hameed Khan  Pakistan Awarded in recognition of his role in academic and social development[15]
1957 Amin Ahmed  Pakistan Awarded by Iskander Mirza in recognition of meritorious services[11]
1958 Abdul Wahid Adamjee  Pakistan Awarded by Iskander Mirza in recognition of playing significant role in Pakistan's economic and industrial development[16]
1967 Alvin Robert Cornelius  Pakistan Awarded by Ayub Khan in recognition of meritorious contribution to Pakistan's national interest[17]
1983 Ronald Speirs  United States Awarded by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in recognition of promoting friendly relations between Pakistan and United States[18]
1989 Ruth Pfau  Germany Awarded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan in recognition of playing a significant role in controlling/removing leprosy outbreaks in Pakistan[19]
1995 Gerald Kaufman  United Kingdom Awarded by Farooq Leghari on the recommendations of Benazir Bhutto in recognition of contributing to Pakistan's diplomatic relations.[20][21]
2005 Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan  United Arab Emirates Awarded by Pervez Mushrraf in recognition of promoting economic relations between Pakistan and UAE.[22]
2005 Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Libya Awarded by Shaukat Aziz in recognition of promoting economic relations between Pakistan and Libya.[23]
2006 Ryan Crocker  United States Awarded by Pervez Musharraf in recognition of supporting Pakistan during 2005 earthquake[24]
2008 Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan  United Arab Emirates Awarded by Pervez Musharraf in recognition of rendering services to Pakistan.[25]
2008 Joe Biden  United States Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of improving economy of Pakistan.[26][27]
2010 Ahmad Faraz  Pakistan Posthumously awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of his contribution to poetry and literature.[28]
2011 Ronald Noble  United States Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of supporting Pakistan to the world police body[29]
2012 Yang Jiechi  China Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of enhancing foreign relations between Pakistan and China[30]
2012 Sirindhorn  Thailand Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari[31]
2014 Irina Bokova  Bulgaria Awarded by Shah Mahmood Qureshi in recognition of promoting cultural heritage of Pakistan and "helping during natural disasters".[32]
2015 Mehriban Aliyeva  Azerbaijan Awarded by Shah Mahmood Qureshi in recognition of initiatives to establish a new modern school in Pakistan after 2005 Kashmir earthquake

[33][34]

2015 Wang Yi  China Awarded by Shah Mahmood Qureshi in recognition of improving relations between Pakistan and China[35][36]
2019 Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan  United Arab Emirates Awarded by Arif Alvi in recognition of "supporting Pakistan in humanitarian and development fields"[6]
2019 Xu Shaoshi  China Award was presented by Pakistan ambassador to China, Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi in recognition of promoting Belt and Road flagship project.[37]
2019 İsmail Kahraman  Turkey Awarded by Arif Alvi in recognition of playing significant role in enhancing relations between the Pakistan and Turkey[38][39]
2020 Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu  Turkey Awarded by Arif Alvi
2021 Volkan Bozkır  Turkey Awarded by Arif Alvi to Volkan Bozkır as the President of the United Nations General Assembly for his outstanding services to international peace, security and sustainable development.[40][41]
2022 Bill Gates  United States On a daylong and first-ever visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, Gates was awarded by Arif Alvi for his contribution to eradicating infectious disease polio in Pakistan.[42]
He Lifeng  China [43]
Khalid bin Salman Al Saud  Saudi Arabia [43]

Controversies

President Asif Ali Zardari was accused in 2011 for conferring 185 civil awards including Hilal-e-Pakistan, to its federal Cabinet ministers and foreigners.[44] Pakistan News media in 2011, covered reports stating that its former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto including Benazir Bhutto were restricted during their tenure from bestowing the civil awards to associates.[45]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Xi's visit to strengthen 'all-weather' strategic ties: Sharif". The Hindu. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  2. ^ "Civilian Awards - Emerging Pakistan". Emerging Pakistan. 2020-07-01. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  3. ^ "National award: Ambassador Saravia proud of feeling 'almost Pakistani'". The Express Tribune. May 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "UAE's deputy PM to receive Pakistan's highest civilian award". Arab News PK. August 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Pakistan Affairs". 1960.
  6. ^ a b "Pakistani President confers top civilian award on Mansour bin Zayed". gulfnews.com.
  7. ^ a b "Civilian Awards". Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  8. ^ "Hilal-E-Pakistan: Thai princess honoured". The Express Tribune. March 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (August 14, 2019). "Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards". DAWN.COM.
  10. ^ "Xi's visit to strengthen 'all-weather' strategic ties: Sharif". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  11. ^ a b "Ahmed, Justice Amin - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org.
  12. ^ "Honour & Awards Policy" (PDF). December 22, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-22.
  13. ^ http://www.finance.gov.pk/circulars/civil_award.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ Paul, T. V.; Paul, Thazha Varkey (March 10, 1994). Asymmetric Conflicts: War Initiation by Weaker Powers. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521466219 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Mohiuddin, Yasmeen Niaz (March 6, 2007). Pakistan: A Global Studies Handbook. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781851098019 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "Abdul W. Adamjee, Pakistani Magnate, Millionaire, Is Dead". The New York Times. July 5, 1972.
  17. ^ Barque, Ali Mohammad (March 6, 1971). "Who's who in Pakistan". Barque. – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Pakistan Affairs". Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. March 6, 1982 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Whitfield, Kate (September 9, 2019). "Dr Ruth Pfau: Who was 'Pakistan's Mother Theresa' celebrated in today's Google doodle?". Express.co.uk.
  20. ^ "PID". pid.gov.pk.
  21. ^ "Tribute to Sir Gerald Kaufman — a great friend of Pakistan". www.thenews.com.pk.
  22. ^ Aftab, Analysis By M. "Abu Dhabi Group becomes a ringer". Khaleej Times.
  23. ^ Al-Raqi, Salim. "Saif al-Islam Gaddafi receives Hilal-e-Pakistan from Shaukat Aziz". Al Jamahiriya Broadcast.
  24. ^ Nawaz, Shuja (August 30, 2019). The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 9789353056216 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "137 Pakistanis, 17 foreigners get civil awards". DAWN.COM. August 15, 2007.
  26. ^ "Pakistan gives awards to Biden, Lugar for support". Reuters. October 28, 2008 – via www.reuters.com.
  27. ^ "Hilal-i-Pakistan awarded to Biden, Lugar". DAWN.COM. October 28, 2008.
  28. ^ "Hilal-e-Pakistan for Ahmed Faraz". The Nation. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Pakistan honours intel chief, gets lauded in return | India News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  30. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Decoding China's 'Silver Fox'". Tribuneindia News Service.
  31. ^ "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Activities". sirindhorn.net.
  32. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's (February 7, 2014). "Hilal-i-Pakistan conferred on Unesco DG". DAWN.COM.
  33. ^ "Azerbaijan's first lady Mehriban Aliyeva handed "Hilal-e-Pakistan" order VIDEO".
  34. ^ "Mehriban Aliyeva awarded Hilal-e Pakistan Order". AzerNews.az. February 13, 2015.
  35. ^ "President confers 'Hilal-e-Pakistan' on Chinese FM | SAMAA". Samaa TV.
  36. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2020-03-06.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. ^ "Pakistan's civil awards conferred on Chinese dignitaries in Beijing - Pakistan". The News International. 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  38. ^ "President Alvi confers top civil, military awards for excellence on Pakistan Day". DAWN.COM. 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  39. ^ "Pakistan confers civilian award on Turkish officials". www.aa.com.tr.
  40. ^ "GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT WRAPS UP VISIT TO PAKISTAN". General Assembly of the United Nations. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  41. ^ Sajid, Islamuddin (27 May 2021). "Pakistan gives UN General Assembly president high honor". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Pakistan honors Bill Gates for efforts on poverty, disease". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  43. ^ a b "President announces Civil Awards for citizens, foreigners". DAWN. 15 August 2023.
  44. ^ Newspaper, the (August 14, 2011). "Civil awards lavished on key PPP members". DAWN.COM.
  45. ^ "Breaking traditions: Civilian awards carry hefty price tag". The Express Tribune. September 4, 2011.
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