NA told: Over 1,200 individuals honoured with prestigious civil awards in last three years

ISLAMABAD: In a glittering display of state-sponsored admiration, the National Assembly was informed on Thursday that over 1,200 individuals were honoured with prestigious civil awards, in recognition of their “exceptional” and often “pioneering” contributions over the past three years.

The announcement revealed a diverse mix of honourees, from the quietly brilliant to the flamboyantly famous, but beneath the accolades lies a political theatre where merit and patronage often blur.

In a written response to questions raised by MPs, the Cabinet Secretariat revealed that out of a total of 21 national awards, 16 come with exclusive privileges.

Of these, individuals who secure five distinct honours are eligible not only for these privileges but also for monetary rewards.

Breaking down the figures, the Cabinet Secretariat outlined a hefty financial incentive for some of the highest accolades.

The recipient of the Nishan-e-Shujaat is granted Rs 1.5 million during their lifetime and Rs 1.875 million posthumously, a significant sum reflecting the honour’s prestige.

Similarly, those awarded the Hilal-e-Shujaat are entitled to Rs 1.25 million during their life, with an additional Rs 1.625 million paid after their passing.

For those who earn the Sitara-e-Shujaat, Rs1.125 million is awarded in life, with Rs 1.375 million following death.

Recipients of the Tamgha-e-Shujaat fare slightly less, receiving Rs 1.025 million while alive and Rs 1.175 million posthumously.

The Presidential Award for Pride of Performance also provides a substantial Rs1.25 million in recognition of excellence.

In addition to financial rewards, civil honour recipients are granted access to VIP lounges and government guesthouses.

They also enjoy the rare privilege of being exempt from licences for firearms, including pistols, Kalashnikovs, 22-bore guns, and two shotguns, further cementing their status.

However, not all honours come with such benefits. The Tamgha-e-Pakistan, Tamgha-e-Shujaat, Tamgha-e-Qaid-e-Azam, Tamgha-e-Khidmat, and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz provide no additional privileges to their recipients.

The government of Sindh has been the most generous in distributing these accolades, awarding civil honours to 149 individuals over the last three years.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed closely with 114 recipients, while Punjab and Balochistan honoured 74 and 37 individuals, respectively.

The Ministry of National Heritage honoured 132 people, the Ministry of Information recognised 89, the Ministry of Interior celebrated 85, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged 82 individuals.

Even the Prime Minister’s Secretariat got in on the action, conferring awards on 67 distinguished individuals. It is pertinent to mention that despite the government’s claims of honouring “exceptional” contributions, these awards, laden with financial rewards and elite privileges, increasingly appear less like recognition of true achievement.

Instead, they seem more like political tools designed to bolster influence, leaving one to wonder how many recipients earned their accolades through merit and how many merely navigated the murky waters of patronage.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026