Pakistani cleaner in Dubai honoured for returning a bag containing 15kg gold

Honesty is the biggest wealth, says Taher Ali

A Pakistani cleaner in Dubai has won over hearts for his honesty after returning 15 kilogrammes of gold worth 7 million dirhams.

Taher Ali Maqbool, 27, said: "Honesty is the biggest wealth." He remarked while being honoured by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), according to Khaleej Times,

"You can't buy honesty even with one crore rupees. Wealth is not permanent; it is with you today, and tomorrow it belongs to someone else," Maqbool said.

According to the honest expat, his father's advice not to earn anything through dishonest means rang in his mind when he opened the bag and found solid gold bars inside.

"I had no clue the bag contained gold. I thought it would be tools or something when I spotted it in a corner. I informed the security guard and returned the bag without thinking twice," he added.

Pakistani 'bites off' worker's ear in Dubai

Maqbool was on night duty when he found the bag at the parking facility in Al Sabkha area earlier this month. Nobody has claimed the bag yet.

The expat, who hails from the Chakri village in Sialkot, said congratulations are pouring in from his family members after he posted about the incident on his Facebook page.

"When I told my father, he said I did the right thing and congratulated me. That meant a lot to me."

Maqbool has been working for a company since 2013 and is the sole bread winner for his family. "I came to Dubai to support my family and my father, who is not well. I do not have big dreams except to build a proper house for my family."