Forces Academy

History of Military Awards

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)[2]
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

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)

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 (General Service 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

Gold Wound Stripe

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 stripe.

Red Wound Stripe

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 stripe.

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)[3]– 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)[4][5][6][7][8] – 2006

Awarded for outstanding humanitarian services in the wake of the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan

Tamgha-e-Eisaar (Medal of Sacrifice)[4][5][6][7][8] – 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

PrecedenceAward nameRibbon
1Nishan-e-Haider (Order of Haider)
2Nishan-e-Pakistan (Order of Pakistan)
3Nishan-e-Shujaat (Order of Bravery)
4Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Order of Excellence)
5Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence)
6Nishan-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Order of the Great Leader)
7Nishan-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Order of Service)
8Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan)
9Hilal-e-Jurat (Crescent of Courage)
10Hilal-e-Shujaat (Crescent of Bravery)
11Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Crescent of Excellence)
12Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)
13Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Crescent of the Great Leader)
14Hilal-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Crescent of Service)
15Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan)
16Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)
17Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery)
18Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Star of Excellence)
19Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)
20Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Star of the Great Leader)
21President’s Award for Pride of Performance
22Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct)
23Sitara-e-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice)
24Sitara-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Star of Service)
25Tamgha-e-Jurat (Medal of Courage)
26Tamgha-e-Shujaat (Medal of Bravery)
27Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Medal of Excellence)
28Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Medal of Excellence)
29Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Medal of the Great Leader)
30Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Good Conduct)
31Tamgha-e-Eisaar (Medal of Sacrifice)
32Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Civilian) (Medal of Service)
33Imtiazi Sanad (Mentioned in Despatches)
34Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal)
35Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)
36Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)
37Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)
38Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)
39Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) – 1998
40

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal) – 2002

41Tamgha-e-Azm (Medal of Conviction)
42Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-I) (Medal of Service Class I)
43Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-II) (Medal of Service Class II)
44Tamgha-e-Khidmat (Class-III) (Medal of Service Class III)
4510 Years Service Medal
4620 Years Service Medal
4730 Years Service Medal
4835 Years Service Medal
4940 Years Service Medal
50Pakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal) – 1947
51

Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) – 1976

52Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) – 1956
53Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) – 1979
54Jamhuriat 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

57Command and Staff College Quetta Instructor’s Medal – (2005)
58Command and Staff College Quetta Student’s Medal – (2005)
Scroll to Top