Gilani announces civil award for hotel cleaner

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has announced a civil award for a hotel cleaner in Gilgit.

Essa Khan, 51, has been hailed as a national hero after he returned 50,000 dollars that were left behind in Serena Hotel, where Khan works as a housekeeper. The money belonged to a Japanese NGO worker and was intended to fund a feasibility study of tourism projects in northern Pakistan.

Khan found the cash in a safe deposit box, while carrying out a routine inspection of one of the hotel rooms. The hotel staff managed to track down the guest and returned the money.

The hotel has given Khan Rs10,000 as a reward for his honesty.

Khan, who earns Rs21,000 a month and has five children, said he had never intended to keep the money and hopes that the incident will help portray Pakistan and Pakistanis in a good light.

Published in The Express Tribune,July 15^th, 2010.