President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred Pakistan's second-highest civilian award, "Hilal-e-Imtiaz," on iconic musician Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for his services to the Pakistani and South Asian music industry at Aiwan-e-Sadr on the eve of Pakistan Day.
The music sensation was awarded for his services in the areas of arts, Qawwali, and singing and for taking Pakistani arts to a global level through his live rendition of Qawwali and modern music.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said he was grateful for the honor. The singer said: “It is with profound gratitude that I accept the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-I-Imtiaz awards bestowed upon me by the esteemed President. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my cherished family, friends, and devoted fans, whose unwavering support has been my guiding light on this remarkable journey. Together, we stand in humble reverence, inspired to continue our pursuit of excellence.”
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said, "It’s a huge honor for him that he was first given Sitara-I-Imtiaz in 2018 and now Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2024. I will do my best to continue promoting the soft side of Pakistan to the world. These are the highest civilian honors, and I am indebted to them. It’s my duty to promote the legacy of my uncle and teacher, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, through modern Qawwali. I am thankful to the whole nation and my fans globally from across the world who have always stood by me.”
Two weeks ago, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said there is no evidence of renowned singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's involvement in money laundering, tax evasion, or any other illegal activity.
The FIA confirmed that it has closed its investigation into a case of alleged money-laundering and tax evasion involving the renowned singer due to a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.
FIA's Lahore Zone additional director confirmed that the competent authority has authorized closing the investigation against Khan and others, in accordance with the recommendations put forth by the field inquiry unit.
"There is no evidence found in the available records that implicates Khan in any illegal currency smuggling activities," the FIA senior officer said.
According to details provided by FIA Lahore, an inquiry was initiated in January against the singer and 182 other frequent commuters who have traveled abroad for work from Lahore International Airport.
The money laundering and tax evasion investigation was based on data concerning frequent travelers, with a specific focus on identifying any individuals involved in currency smuggling or money laundering, the report stated.
“The data on 182 travelers was provided by the deputy director of immigration at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore. Consequently, the proceedings were initiated to detect any frequent travelers found smuggling off currency or money laundering. The name Khan was also included in the frequent list of travelers.
However, based on available records, nothing incriminating has been found against the singer to establish that he is involved in the illegal business of currency smuggling.”