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 Pakistani 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; Urdu: نشان), Hilal (Crescent; Urdu: ہلال), Sitara (Star; Urdu: ستارہ) and Tamgha (Medal; Urdu: تمغہ), as follows:
| Nishan-e-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-Quaid-i-Azam | Sitara-i-Khidmat |
| Tamgha-i-Pakistan | Tamgha-i-Shuja’at | Tamgha-e-Imtiaz | Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam | Tamgha-i-Khidmat |
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)