Pakistan to honour UAE expat for three decades of charitable work

Haji Daraz Khan has been repatriating deceased Pakistanis from the UAE. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI // A Pakistani man who has spent the past 30 years helping to repatriate the bodies of his compatriots is to receive one of his country’s highest civilian honours.

Haji Daraz Khan, 64, will be awarded the Tamgha-I-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) for his services to the Pakistani community in the UAE.

Besides repatriating deceased labourers, especially those without family support, he also provided financial assistance to the bereaved families who lost their breadwinner.

“I was not expecting this,” said Mr Khan, a public relations officer for a private company, about being selected for the award. “I am thankful to the Almighty and the Pakistani community, including the mission members who considered me worthy enough to recommend my name for such prestigious recognition.”

Mr Khan dedicated his award to all Pakistani expatriates in the UAE “who are always together to help their countrymen, especially in the times of crisis”.

He is the second Pakistani and fourth person in the UAE to be given the award. Two Emiratis and a Pakistani were awarded the medal in 2012.

Dr Zubair Aqil Farooq, an Emirati, received the award for services rendered to Urdu literature. Ayesha Al Shamsi, an Emirati, and Mirza Mehdi Hussain, a Pakistani, received the awards for their philanthropic work.

Asif Ali Khan Durrani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, said Mr Khan had been nominated for the award to recognise his “meritorious services as a social worker, dedicated to the welfare of the needy members of the society”.

He said Mr Khan’s efforts should spur his fellow expatriates to work for the communities of the UAE and Pakistan.

Tamgha-I-Imtiaz is Pakistan’s fourth highest decoration for Pakistani or foreign civilians.

The investiture ceremony will be held at President House in Islamabad on Pakistan Day on March 23.