1,200 conferred civil awards, NA told

Cabinet Secretariat outlines privileges for recipients

ISLAMABAD:

The government had conferred national civil awards on 1,200 distinguished personalities for their exceptional work during the last three years, the Cabinet Secretariat informed the National Assembly on Thursday.

During the session, details of the country's national civil awards and the privileges associated with them were presented in the house, highlighting recognition for outstanding contributions over the past three years.

Of the 21 national awards, the Cabinet Secretariat said, 16 civil awards have been deemed eligible for privileges and benefits. Recipients of five major awards are entitled to cash prizes, it added.

Nishan-e-Shujaat carries Rs1.5 million prize money while alive and Rs1.875 million posthumously; Hilal-e-Shujaat Rs1.25 million and Rs1.625 million; Sitara-e-Shujaat Rs1.125 million and Rs1.375 million; Tamgha-e-Shujaat Rs1.025 million and Rs1.175 million; while the Pride in Performance carries Rs1.25 million.

Awardees are also entitled to use VIP lounges, government guesthouses, and enjoy exemptions from licences for pistols, Kalashnikovs, .22 bore, and two-shot guns, the house was informed.

However, awards such as Tamgha-e-Pakistan, Tamgha-e-Shujaat, Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Tamgha-e-Khidmat, and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz do not carry any privileges.

Provincial breakdowns revealed that Sindh led in civil awards with 149 recipients over three years, followed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 114; Punjab, 74; and Balochistan, 37. Ministries also distributed awards, including the National Heritage, 132; Information, 89; Interior, 85; Foreign Affairs, 82; and the Prime Minister's Secretariat, 67.

The National Assembly was briefed that the awards aim not only to recognise exceptional service but also provide tangible support and recognition to encourage continued excellence in public and national service.