In touching gesture, Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh gifts shoes to Pakistani fan at UK concert

Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh (left) gifts shoes to a Pakistani fan (center) during his concert in Manchester, UK, on September 28, 2024. (Diljit Dosanjh)
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Updated 30 September 2024
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In touching gesture, Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh gifts shoes to Pakistani fan at UK concert

  • Dosanjh is arguably the most prominent Punjabi singer worldwide, with a massive fan following in Pakistan
  • Borders are drawn by politicians, Punjabis have love in their hearts for everyone, Indian singer tells Pakistani fan

ISLAMABAD: In a heartwarming gesture that has gone viral on social media, Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh recently gifted a pair of branded shoes to a Pakistani fan at his United Kingdom concert, expressing his love for the people of Pakistan. 

Dosanjh is arguably the most prominent singer in the Punjabi music industry, which also has a massive fan following in Pakistan. The singer is known for mixing traditional Punjabi music and adding a modern flair to it. 

Political tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars in the past seven decades, make cultural exchanges between the two countries extremely rare. 

Dosanjh, who was performing at a concert in Manchester on Saturday as part of his “Dil-luminati” tour of Europe, called a female fan onstage to gift her a pair of shoes. When the fan told him she was from Pakistan, the Indian singer urged the crowd to give her a huge round of applause. 

“For us, India and Pakistan are both the same,” he said on the microphone. “Punjabis have love for everyone in their hearts. These borders are made by our politicians.”

The singer said the people of Punjab have “love for everyone in their hearts.”

“So, I warmly welcome those who came from my country, India, and those who came from Pakistan,” he said to loud cheers from the crowd. “Warm welcome to them as well from all of us.”

Some of Dosanjh’s most popular hits include “Proper Patola,” “Do You Know,” and “Laembadgini.” Apart from his success in the music industry, he has also forayed into films and acted in Bollywood films such as “Udta Punjab,” “Good Newwz,” and “Phillauri.”


Pakistan deputy PM directs authorities to monitor food prices ahead of Ramadan 

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Pakistan deputy PM directs authorities to monitor food prices ahead of Ramadan 

  • Prices of essential food items surge during holy month of Ramadan due to hoarding, profiteering by traders
  • Deputy PM Ishaq Dar directs authorities to prevent artificial price hikes, exploitation of consumers in Ramadan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday directed authorities to monitor prices of essential food items ahead of Ramadan to prevent artificial price hikes and consumers from getting exploited, his office said. 

Pakistani increasingly shop for essential food items during the holy month of Ramadan, as millions across the country fast from dawn till sunset. Prices of essential food items surge during the holy month every year as traders often indulge in hoarding and profiteering. 

Dar chaired a meeting to review the availability and prices of essential commodities across the country on Tuesday, his office said. 

“DPM/FM [foreign minister] directed federal & provincial authorities to continue close monitoring, particularly in view of the approaching month of Ramazan, to prevent any artificial price hike or exploitation of consumers by unscrupulous elements,” Dar’s office said in a statement.

A central moon sighting committee in Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, determines when Ramadan begins. The Islamic month is expected to start this year after mid-February, around Feb. 17 or Feb. 18.

Pakistan’s government also announces subsidies for the masses during the holy month to lower the prices of essential food items. 

In 2024, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government announced a Ramadan package comprising a subsidy of $26.8 million (Rs7.5 billion) to lower the prices of essential items for over 30,96,00,000 families.