New Delhi: Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been granted Indian citizenship with effect from January 1 following his request to the Centre to legalize his status in the country on humanitarian grounds.
Officials in the Union home ministry said Sami will be an Indian citizen with effect from Friday.
As of today, Sami is on a three-month visa extension which was given to him on October 6 by the ministry.
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.
Lahore-born 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.
His visa was extended from time to time. 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.
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.
