DastoorAI
Constitution

Part XII · Miscellaneous · General

Awards

Article 259

EnglishاردوBoth
Save and use in your cases · free

Amended by 1st Amendment (1974) · 26th Amendment (2024)

Not sure what this means? Get it in simple words, in English and Urdu.

(1)

No citizen shall accept any title, honour or decoration from any foreign State except with the approval of the Federal Government.

(2)

No title, honour or decoration shall be conferred by the Federal Government or any Provincial Government on any citizen, but the President may award decorations in recognition of gallantry 1[, meritorious service in the Armed Forces] 2[, academic distinction or distinction in the field of sports 3[, science, technology, medicine, arts or public service]], as provided by Federal law.

(3)

All titles, honours and decorations awarded to citizens by any authority in Pakistan before the commencing day otherwise than in recognition of gallantry 4[, meritorious service in the Armed Forces] or academic distinction shall stand annulled. C HAPTER 5.–I NTERPRETATION

Amendment notes (4)›
  1. 1Inserted by the Constitution (First Amdt.) Act, 1974 (33 of 1974), section 14, (with effect from the 4th May, 1974).
  2. 2Substituted by the Constitution (Third Amdt.) Order, 1981 (P. O. No. 12 of 1981), Article 2, for “or academic distinction”.
  3. 3Substituted by the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amdt.) Act, 2024 (26 of 2024), section 26 for “or nursing”.
  4. 4Inserted and shall be deemed always to have been so ins. by Act 33 of 1974, section 14, (with effect from the 4th May, 1974).

How to cite

In a petition
Article 259 of the Constitution
With heading
Article 259 of the Constitution (Awards)
In full
Article 259, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973

English text as amended up to 21 November 2025 (27th Amendment), published by Ministry of Law and Justice / National Assembly of Pakistan. The English text is authoritative. Official PDF, page 184