Pak Dalit gets civilian honour in recognition of his services

For the first time ever,a Pakistani Dalit has been decorated with a civilian honour in recognition of his services for the uplift of society.

Sono Khaghrani was presented the ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’,a civilian award,by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi on Tuesday.

Khagrani,the chief doctor in Thardeep Rural Development Programme,was given the award on the occasion of Pakistan Day.

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He has been working for the uplift of impoverished sections of society,with special interest in the areas of health and education,for several years.

Khagrani said he was “very happy” that the government had acknowledged his work and that he had become the first Dalit in Pakistan to receive such an award.

“This is the first time that someone from my community has received an award,and I am unable to express my happiness in words,” he told BBC.

“I am proud of my work… Irrespective of which section of society one hails from,if one works hard and with honesty one’s work will be praised one day,” he said.

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Khagrani said the award has been a boost for him and he now wanted to work not just in Sindh province but the whole of Pakistan.

Khagrani,who hails from Tharparkar district,was born into a poor Dalit family in 1954.