Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been granted Indian citizenship with effect from January 1 following his request to the Centre to legalise his status in the country on humanitarian grounds.

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.

Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, grants Indian citizenship to applicants with distinguished contribution in the field of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or human progress via a certificate of “naturalisation”.

Lahore-born Mr. Sami had first arrived in India on March 13, 2001 on a visitor’s visa with the validity of one year which was issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

Mr. Sami’s two songs from the album, Kabhi To Nazar Milao and Lift Karaa De, whose music video starred actor Govinda, were a sensation in the early 2000s.

This year the singer tasted success after his song Bhar Do Jholi meri in Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan was a smash hit.