The Hilaal-e-Imtiaz (Urdu: ہلالِ امتیاز; transl. Crescent of Excellence; pronounced [hɪ.lɑː.lɪ ɪm.t̪ɪ.jɑːz]), also spelled and transliterated as Hilāl-e-Imtiyāz), is the third-highest (in the hierarchy of "Hilal")[2] civilian award and honour given to both civilians and military officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces by the Government of Pakistan. It recognises individuals who have made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors". It is a civilian award, and not limited to the citizens of Pakistan.
The honour is restricted to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their fields that led to international recognition for the state. It is awarded in the fields of literature, arts, sports, medicine and science for civilians. It is announced every year on Independence Day (14 August), and given on Pakistan Day, 23 March, by the President of Pakistan.
For officers in the military, it is given for distinguished service. The first Hilal e Imtiaz Military in the history of Pakistan was awarded by PM ZA Bhutto to 4 star General Zia ul Haq after Zia was appointed Chief of the Army in 1976. Initially awarded exclusively to officers reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense, after 1979 it began to be awarded in a new format to officers who were up to two steps removed from the Secretary of Defense, such as Major General or Lieutenant General (Army), Air Vice-Marshals or Air Marshals (Air Force) and Rear-Admiral or Vice-Admiral (Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines). The Parliament's committee for award and recognition services selects the names of individuals and sends their report to the prime minister; on his advice, the president announces the awards in a ceremony that is broadcast by PTV. The award is usually given to individuals, not groups, because the purpose of the award is to recognise the recipients' individual contributions.
The award is a disc of golden jasminum between the five points of a pure gold star. The star has additional bright jasminum; in its centre there is a green emerald with a golden crescent.
A special grade of the medal has a larger execution of the same medal design worn as a star on the left of the chest. In addition, it is worn as a sash on the right shoulder, with its rosette (yellow with white for civilians and green for military officers) and white and yellow edge bearing the central disc of the medal at its centre, resting on the left hip. At the ceremony, both medals can be worn at the same time according to their achievements. The medal is suspended on a dark green ribbon with a light yellow and white central stripe and white edge stripes.
Recipients
- Rohail Hyatt (2021)
- Dr. Qamar Mehboob (2021)
- Tahir Ikram (2021)
- Jamshed Azim Hashmi (2021)
- Kishwar Naheed (2021)[3]
- Dr.Asif Mahmood Jah (2021)[4]
- Lieutenant General Mohammad Asad Durrani (Director General Inter-Services Intelligence)
- Abdul Bari Khan (2019)[5]
- Zaheer Ayub Baig (2019)[6]
- Ghulam Asghar (2019)[6]
- Tasawar Hayat (2019)[6]
- Wasim Akram (2019)[6]
- Waqar Younis (2019)[6]
- Recep Akdag (Turkey-2019)[6]
- Dr Michael Jansen (Germany-2019)[6]
- Hussain Dawood (Business and Philanthropy) (2018)[7]
- Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas (2015)
- Anwar Maqsood (Scriptwriter) (2013)
- Abida Parveen (musician and Sufi music performer) (2013)[8]
- Josh Malihabadi (1894–1982) Urdu poet (2013)[8]
- Abdul Hafeez Kardar (1925–1996) former Pakistan Cricket Team captain (2013)[8]
- Ansar Burney (Human and civil rights activist) (2013)[9]
- Zia Mohyeddin (actor, television anchor and broadcaster) (2013)[9]
- Azhar Abbas (journalist) (2013)[9]
- Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary (Organic chemist) (2007)
- Iftikhar Arif (poet, scholar and literary critic) (2006)[10]
- Ashfaq Ahmed (1925–2004) (writer, playwright and television broadcaster) (2006)[10]
- Mushtaq Ahmed Yousfi (writer) (2002)
- Jansher Khan (Squash Legend) (1997)[11]
- Prime minister Imran Khan (Sports) 1992
- Dr. A. Q. Khan (Nuclear scientist) 1989
- Munir Ahmad Khan (Nuclear Science) 1989
- Major General Muhammad Ikram Cheema (Military) 1987
- Hamoodur Rahman (academic) 1984
- Ruth Pfau (Humanitarian) 1979[12]
- Major General S A Nawab (Military) 1979
- Admiral Mohammad Shariff (Military) 1979
- General Zia ul Haq (Military) 1976
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