KARACHI: Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was awarded an honorary degree by the Oxford University on Wednesday.

The degree was also awarded to seven other personalities for their invaluable services in different fields. Mr Khan’s honorary degree was a doctorate of music.

The singer was recognised by the university as a “Pakistani singer, primarily of Qawwali”, and has been accredited for more than 50 albums, over one billion views online, more than 50 title tracks of television serials and over 100 film songs in both Hollywood and Bollywood.

In a statement, the singer said: “I am honoured to be accepting this degree from Oxford University, a world famous educational institution.”

“This will be a very special day for my family and I, but also for my fans, who have shared this journey with me. To be presented with this honour is a massive achievement and I am happy that my music has allowed me to reach such incredible heights,” he added.

In 2017, Oxford University named a rehearsal hall after him — the Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Music Room. This was the first time a South Asian singer received this honour.

In 2016, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Oxford University. He then became the first Pakistani to have received this honour, which was previously awarded to India’s Amitabh Bachchan.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019