Nishan-e-Haider

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Nishan-e-Haider نشان حیدر
Obverse of the Nishan-e-Haider
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Acts of greatest heroism in circumstances of extreme danger in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air. In addition the person must have also died in the line of duty.[1]
Country	Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented by	Government of Pakistan
Eligibility	Military personnel only
Post-nominals	NH
Status	Active
Established	16 March 1957[2] (applied retrospectively from 1948 onwards)
First awarded	16 March 1957 – Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Captain Muhammad Sarwar, Pakistan army
Last awarded	15 July 1999 – Kargil War, Havildar Lalak Jan, Pakistan army
Total	11
Total awarded posthumously	11
Website	pakistanarmy.gov.pk
Service Ribbon of Nishan-e-Haider
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Equivalent	Hilal-e-Kashmir
Next (lower)	Hilal-e-Jurat

Nishan-e-Haider (NH; Urdu: نشان حیدر, lit. 'Mark of the Lion' or 'Emblem of the Lion'), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan.^[3][4] The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy in air, land, or sea. It has been awarded only 11 times since Pakistan's independence in 1947.

Nishan-e-Haider literally means "Emblem of the Lion" in the Urdu language.^[5] The word "Haider" is also the epithet of Ali, who is referred to as the 'Lion of Allah', a valiant warrior and leader. Ali was the fourth Caliph of Islam and declared bravest person by Muhammad. He is known by his courage, bravery and power in Islam.^[6]