Nishan-e-Haider is Pakistan highest military award. It is being given to those soldiers who show great acts of bravery and courage against the enemy. What makes this award even more special is that it has been awarded only to martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.
This award was made effective retrospectively from 1947 but officially instituted in 1957.
11 soldiers have been awarded with this prestigious award so far.
Facts About Nishan-e-Haider
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name Meaning | “Mark of the Lion” |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Established | March 16, 1957 |
| Eligibility | Members of the Pakistan Armed Forces |
| Criteria | Exceptional bravery in battle, risking or sacrificing life |
| Total Awarded | 11 (All posthumously) |
| First Recipient | Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar (awarded for actions in 1948) |
| Most Recent Recipient | Havaldar Lalak Jan (1999 Kargil War) |
| Named After | Hazrat Ali (RA), also known as Haider (Lion), symbol of bravery |
| Medal Design | Bronze star and crescent on green ribbon with “Haider” inscribed in Urdu |
| Presented By | President of Pakistan |
List of Nishan-e-Haider Recipients
| # | Name | Rank | Regiment | Conflict | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar | Captain | Punjab Regiment | First Kashmir War | 1948 |
| 2 | Naik Saif Ali Janjua | Naik | Azad Kashmir Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1947 |
| 3 | Major Tufail Muhammad | Major | Pakistan Army (Medical) | Indo-Pak War | 1965 |
| 4 | Major Raja Aziz Bhatti | Major | Punjab Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1965 |
| 5 | Major Muhammad Akram | Major | Azad Kashmir Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1971 |
| 6 | Major Shabbir Sharif | Major | Frontier Force Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1971 |
| 7 | Sepoy Muhammad Hussain | Sepoy | Azad Kashmir Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1971 |
| 8 | Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz | Lance Naik | Punjab Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1971 |
| 9 | Captain Karnal Sher Khan | Captain | Northern Light Infantry | Kargil War | 1999 |
| 10 | Havaldar Lalak Jan | Havaldar | Northern Light Infantry | Kargil War | 1999 |
| 11 | (Honorary) Saif Ali Janjua | Naik | Azad Kashmir Regiment | Indo-Pak War | 1947 |
Also Read : Kashmir dispute awaits just, final settlement, Pakistan informs UNSC
