Nanocrystalline ZnS:Pb$^{2+}$ phosphor was synthesized by microwave-assisted co-precipitation method. Thephase purity and surface morphology of prepared material were investigated using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) anda scanning electron microscope. The photoluminescence property was studied by near-UV (nUV) excitation. The XRDpattern of prepared phosphor matches well with that of an ICDD (International Center for Diffraction Data) file. Surfacemorphology of prepared phosphor was found to be in submicron range. As-prepared ZnS:Pb$^{2+}$ phosphor shows a greenemission under nUV excitation. As Pb$^{2+}$ ions are located on a regular Zn$^{2+}$ site they produce a green emission band inthe range of 400–650 nm, centred at 500 nm, under excitation wavelength of 357 nm, exhibiting luminescence propertiestypically observed for Pb$^{2+}$. Effect of concentration of Pb$^{2+}$ ions on emission intensity was studied. The colour co-ordinates of prepared phosphor were calculated and found to lie in the green region of Commission Internationale de l’Eclairagediagram.