Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been awarded a honourary degree by the prestigious Oxford University for his contribution to Pakistan music industry.
Rahat has sung more than 50 title tracks of television serials and over 100 film songs in both Hollywood and Bollywood. Announcing that Rahat would be awarded an honourary degree, the Oxford University described him as a “Pakistani singer, primarily of Qawwali, a devotional music of the Muslim Sufis”.
“Born into a family whose name has become synonymous with South Asian musical tradition, he began formal training at the age of seven and has since released more than 50 albums, performed in numerous high-profile concerts across the world and amassed a global following, achieving over one billion views online,” the University had said in a statement.
The Oxford University had announced in March the names of eight people from all over the world, who were awarded honorary degree on Tuesday.
Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai was also present at the event, where she met Rahat and was seen having a a conversation.