Tamgha-e-Jurat and All Pakistan Military Medals Explained

Quick answer: Pakistan’s military and civil awards are grouped into families. Jurat awards are for gallantry in combat, Shujaat awards are for bravery (including by civilians and police), Imtiaz awards are for excellence and long service, and Basalat awards are for courage outside active combat. Each family has grades: Nishan (highest), Hilal, Sitara and Tamgha. The highest award of all is the Nishan-e-Haider.

Pakistan’s Medals at a Glance

Grade	Gallantry in combat (Jurat)	Bravery (Shujaat)	Excellence (Imtiaz)	Valour outside combat (Basalat)
Nishan	Nishan-e-Haider	Nishan-e-Shujaat	Nishan-e-Imtiaz	–
Hilal	Hilal-e-Jurat	Hilal-e-Shujaat	Hilal-e-Imtiaz	–
Sitara	Sitara-e-Jurat	Sitara-e-Shujaat	Sitara-e-Imtiaz	Sitara-e-Basalat
Tamgha	Tamgha-e-Jurat	Tamgha-e-Shujaat	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz	Tamgha-e-Basalat

Order of Precedence of Major Awards

Rank	Award	Family
1	Nishan-e-Haider	Gallantry (combat)
3	Nishan-e-Shujaat	Bravery
5	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)	Excellence
9	Hilal-e-Jurat	Gallantry (combat)
10	Hilal-e-Shujaat	Bravery
12	Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)	Excellence
16	Sitara-e-Jurat	Gallantry (combat)
17	Sitara-e-Shujaat	Bravery
19	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)	Excellence
22	Sitara-e-Basalat	Valour outside combat
25	Tamgha-e-Jurat	Gallantry (combat)
26	Tamgha-e-Shujaat	Bravery
28	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military)	Excellence
30	Tamgha-e-Basalat	Valour outside combat
33	Imtiazi Sanad	Mention in despatches

Nishan-e-Haider

The Nishan-e-Haider is Pakistan’s highest military award for the most conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy. It is named after Hazrat Ali (RA), known as Haider. It has been awarded 11 times, every time posthumously, to heroes such as Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, Captain Karnal Sher Khan and Havaldar Lalak Jan.

Jurat Awards: Gallantry in Combat

Hilal-e-Jurat

The second-highest combat gallantry award, usually given to senior officers for leadership and courage in war.

Sitara-e-Jurat

The third-highest combat gallantry award, given for acts of courage against the enemy.

Tamgha-e-Jurat

The Tamgha-e-Jurat is the fourth award in the Jurat family. It recognises acts of gallantry during combat against the enemy and is one of the most common gallantry decorations seen on the uniforms of soldiers and officers who served in Pakistan’s wars and operations.

Imtiazi Sanad

A certificate of gallantry, similar to a “mention in despatches”, for brave conduct that does not reach the level of a medal.

Shujaat Awards: Bravery

The Shujaat family rewards acts of bravery. Unlike the Jurat awards, it is not limited to combat against an enemy, and it is regularly given to police officers, civil servants and ordinary citizens who risked their lives to save others.

Nishan-e-Shujaat and Hilal-e-Shujaat

The two highest bravery awards, given for exceptional courage at great personal risk.

Sitara-e-Shujaat

The third grade, often announced on 14 August for bravery during terrorist attacks, rescues and disasters.

Tamgha-e-Shujaat

The fourth grade. It is one of the bravery awards most often given to police officers and civilians, many of them posthumously.

Imtiaz Awards: Excellence and Service

The Imtiaz family has both military and civil versions.

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military): four-star generals and equivalent ranks.
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military): major generals and above, for excellent work.
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military): colonels and above, for meritorious service or after 18 years’ service.
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military): lieutenant colonels and above, for meritorious service or after 12 years’ service.

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Civil)

The civil Tamgha-e-Imtiaz is given to citizens for distinguished work in fields such as the arts, literature, science, sports, medicine and public service. Civil awards are announced by the government on Independence Day (14 August) and presented by the President on Pakistan Day (23 March).

Basalat Awards: Courage Outside Combat

Sitara-e-Basalat and Tamgha-e-Basalat are open to all ranks and recognise valour, courage and devotion to duty when not in active operations against the enemy, for example during internal security duties, accidents or rescue work.

Commemorative and Campaign Medals

Medal	What it marks
Tamgha-e-Baqa	The 1998 nuclear tests at Chagai (not a gallantry award)
Tamgha-e-Istaqlal	Active service during the 2001 to 2002 standoff with India
Tamgha-e-Azm	Services in the war on terrorism, awarded in 2018 to military and civil armed forces personnel
Sitara-e-Harb and Tamgha-e-Jang	Service in the 1965 and 1971 wars
Tamgha-e-Diffa	General service medal for campaigns
Tamgha-e-Khidmat	Long and good service

What Benefits Do Medal Holders Get?

Benefits depend on the award and on current government and armed forces policy. Gallantry award holders and the families of martyrs can receive financial grants, allowances and other support, and civil award holders are honoured at official ceremonies. Exact amounts change over time, so the official source is the latest notification from the Cabinet Division or the relevant service headquarters.

FAQs

What is Tamgha-e-Jurat?

Tamgha-e-Jurat is a Pakistani military gallantry award for acts of courage in combat against the enemy. It is the fourth award in the Jurat family, after the Nishan-e-Haider, Hilal-e-Jurat and Sitara-e-Jurat.