Nishan-e-Pakistan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nishan-e-Pakistan
Awarded by Government of Pakistan
Type	National Civilian
Established	19 March 1957
Country	Pakistan
Eligibility	Heads of State
Criteria	"rendered services of highest distinction" to the national interest of Pakistan.
Grades	Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Member
Post-nominals	N.Pk
Statistics
First induction	1959
Last induction	2024
Precedence
Next (higher)	Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Pakistan
Next (lower)	Grand Officer of the Order of Pakistan
Service Ribbon of the Nishan-e-Pakistan

The Nishan-e-Pakistan (which means Grand Cross of the Order of Pakistan in Urdu) is the highest award a civilian can receive in Pakistan. It's like the biggest "thank you" from the country! This special award is given to people who have done amazing things for Pakistan. It's for those who have shown great service to the country's interests.

The Nishan-e-Pakistan can be given to government officials and regular people. This includes both Pakistani citizens and people from other countries. It's considered as important as the Nishan-e-Haider, which is the highest award for bravery in the Pakistani military. The award was created on March 19, 1957. It doesn't matter what your job or social status is; anyone can receive it for their outstanding work.

Every year, new awards are announced on Independence Day (August 14th). The actual ceremony where people receive their awards happens on Pakistan Resolution Day (March 23rd). The president of Pakistan gives out these awards. Sometimes, the award is given to someone after they have passed away. Everyone who receives the Nishan-e-Pakistan can use "N.Pk" after their name.

What are the Levels of the Nishan-e-Pakistan?

The Nishan-e-Pakistan has different levels, or "grades," that show how important the award is.

• (Nishan)
  • Grand Cross with Collar
  • Grand Cross
• Grand Officer (Hilal)
• Commander (Sitara)
• Member (Tamgha)

What Does the Award Look Like?

The Nishan-e-Pakistan comes with different parts, depending on the level of the award.

• Collar (for the highest level, Nishan)
• Sash (also for the Nishan)
• Star (for Nishan and Hilal levels)
• Badge (for Nishan, Hilal, Sitara, and Tamgha levels)
• Necklet/Bow (for Hilal and Sitara levels)
• Medal (for Nishan, Hilal, Sitara, and Tamgha levels)

Nishan-e-Pakistan Gallery

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  The Nishan-e-Pakistan that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II

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  President Musharraf presenting the then Iranian President Mohammad Khatami with the Nishan-e-Pakistan

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  In 2023, President of Pakistan Arif Alvi conferred the Nishan e Pakistan on His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in a special investiture ceremony in Aiwan e Sadr, Islamabad.

Who Has Received the Nishan-e-Pakistan?

Many important people from around the world have received the Nishan-e-Pakistan. These are often leaders of countries who have helped build strong friendships with Pakistan.

Year	Image	Name	Role	Country
1958		Haile Selassie I	Emperor of Ethiopia	Ethiopia
9 November 1959		Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi	Shah of Iran	Imperial State of Iran
1960		Hussein bin Talal	King of Jordan	The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
1960		Queen Elizabeth II	Queen of the United Kingdom	United Kingdom
13 January 1961		Josip Broz Tito	President of Yugoslavia	Yugoslavia
1962		Bhumibol Adulyadej	King of Thailand	Thailand
7 December 1957		Dwight D. Eisenhower	President of the United States	United States
1 August 1969		Richard Nixon	President of the United States	United States
1982		Suharto	President of Indonesia	Indonesia
1983		King Birendra	King of Nepal	Nepal
23 March 1983		Aga Khan IV	Leader of Ismaili Muslims	United Kingdom
19 May 1990		Morarji Desai	Prime Minister of India	India
18 September 1992		Hassanal Bolkiah	Sultan of Brunei Darussalam	Brunei
3 October 1992		Nelson Mandela	President of South Africa	South Africa
30 August 1995		Sadžida Silajdžić	Ambassador of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina
March 8, 1997		Fidel Ramos	President of the Philippines	Philippines
10 April 1999		Li Peng	Premier of China	China
6 April 1999		Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani	Emir of Qatar	Qatar
21 April 2001		Qaboos bin Said	Sultan of Oman	Oman
1 February 2006		King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud	King of Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia
24 November 2006		Hu Jintao	President of China	China
26 October 2009		Recep Tayyip Erdoğan	Prime Minister of Turkey	Turkey
2009		Emperor Akihito	Emperor of Japan	Japan
31 March 2010		Abdullah Gul	President of Turkey	Turkey
22 May 2013		Li Keqiang	Premier of China	China
21 April 2015		Xi Jinping	President of China	China
23 May 2018		Fidel Castro	Former President of Cuba	Cuba
19 November 2018		Haris Silajdžić	Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina
18 February 2019		Mohammad bin Salman	Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia
22 March 2019		Mahathir Mohamad	Prime Minister of Malaysia	Malaysia
26 May 2019		Wang Qishan	Vice President of China	China
23 June 2019		Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani	Emir of Qatar	Qatar
23 March 2020		Daren Sammy	West Indies cricketer	Saint Lucia
14 August 2020		Syed Ali Shah Geelani	Hurriyat Leader	India
5 November 2020		Šefik Džaferović	Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 December 2023		His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin	Leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Community	India
23 March 2024		Khalid bin Salman	Minister of Defence Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia

More About Pakistani Awards

• Nishan-e-Pakistan (Monument)
• Nishan-e-Imtiaz
• Civil decorations of Pakistan