AMN/

Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been granted Indian citizenship with effect from January 1, 2016. Officials in the Union Home Ministry said Sami will be an Indian citizen with effect from January 1st.

The 46-year-old singer, who has made India his second home for the past few years, had made a representation to the Home Ministry on May 26 this year requesting his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

His Pakistani passport issued on May 27, 2010 expired on May 26, 2015 and his passport was not renewed by the Pakistan government which led him to approach the Indian government with the request to legalise his stay in India on humanitarian grounds. As of today, Sami is on a three-month visa extension which was given to him on October 6 by the Ministry. His visa was extended from time to time.

Sami’s two songs from the album, ‘Kabhi To Nazar Milao’ and ‘Lift Karaa De’, were a sensation in the early 2000s.