# Hilal-e-Pakistan

Hilal-e-Pakistan (lit. 'Crescent of Pakistan,,ہلا لے پاکستان ') is the second-highest civil award (in the hierarchy of "Hilal") of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 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. It is bestowed by the president of Pakistan once a year on the eve of Independence day.

## History

Hilal-e-Pakistan and other civil awards came into existence following the declaration of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 23 March 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 was possibly first conferred upon Chief justice of Dhaka high court, Amin Ahmed.

## 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.

## Previous versions of the Hilal-e-Pakistan

* Neck Medal for the 1957-75 version 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. |
| — | | Akhtar Hameed Khan | Pakistan | Awarded in recognition of his role in academic and social development |
| 1957 | | Amin Ahmed | Pakistan | Awarded by Iskander Mirza in recognition of meritorious services |
| 1958 | | Abdul Wahid Adamjee | Pakistan | Awarded by Iskander Mirza in recognition of playing significant role in Pakistan's economic and industrial development |
| 1967 | | Alvin Robert Cornelius | Pakistan | Awarded by Ayub Khan in recognition of meritorious contribution to Pakistan's national interest |
| 1983 | Ronald I. Speirs | United States | Awarded by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in recognition of promoting friendly relations between Pakistan and United States |
| 1989 | | Ruth Pfau | Germany | Awarded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan in recognition of playing a significant role in controlling/removing leprosy outbreaks in Pakistan |
| 1995 | | Gerald Kaufman | United Kingdom | Awarded by Farooq Leghari on the recommendations of Benazir Bhutto in recognition of contributing to Pakistan's diplomatic relations. |
| 2005 | | Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan | United Arab Emirates | Awarded by Pervez Mushrraf in recognition of promoting economic relations between Pakistan and UAE. |
| 2005 | | Saif al-Islam Gaddafi | Libya | Awarded by Shaukat Aziz in recognition of promoting economic relations between Pakistan and Libya. |
| 2006 | | Ryan Crocker | United States | Awarded by Pervez Musharraf in recognition of supporting Pakistan during 2005 earthquake |
| 2008 | | Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan | United Arab Emirates | Awarded by Pervez Musharraf in recognition of rendering services to Pakistan. |
| 2008 | | Joe Biden | United States | Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of improving economy of Pakistan. |
| 2010 | | Ahmad Faraz | Pakistan | Posthumously awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of his contribution to poetry and literature. |
| 2011 | | Ronald Noble | United States | Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of supporting Pakistan to the world police body |
| 2012 | | Yang Jiechi | China | Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of enhancing foreign relations between Pakistan and China |
| 2012 | | Sirindhorn | Thailand | Awarded by Asif Ali Zardari |
| 2014 | | Irina Bokova | Bulgaria | Awarded by Shah Mahmood Qureshi in recognition of promoting cultural heritage of Pakistan and "helping during natural disasters". |
| 2015 | | Mehriban Aliyeva | Azerbaijan | Awarded by Shah Mahmood Qureshi in recognition of initiatives to establish a new modern school in Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake |
| 2015 | | Wang Yi | China | Awarded by Shah Mahmood Qureshi in recognition of improving relations between Pakistan and China |
| 2019 | | Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan | United Arab Emirates | Awarded by Arif Alvi in recognition of "supporting Pakistan in humanitarian and development fields" |
| 2019 | | Xu Shaoshi | China | Award was presented by Pakistan's ambassador to China, Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi in recognition of promoting Belt and Road flagship project. |
| 2019 | | İsmail Kahraman | Turkey | Awarded by Arif Alvi in recognition of playing significant role in enhancing relations between Pakistan and Turkey |
| 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. |
| 2022 | | Bill Gates | United States | On a day long and first-ever visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, Gates was awarded by Arif Alvi for his contribution to eradicating infectious disease polio in Pakistan. |
| | | He Lifeng | China | |
| | | Khalid bin Salman Al Saud | Saudi Arabia | |

## Controversies

President Asif Ali Zardari was accused in 2011 for conferring 185 civil awards including the Hilal-e-Pakistan, to its federal Cabinet ministers and foreigners. 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.