A hotel cleaner who earns US $300 a year has been hailed a national hero in Pakistan after he returned $50,000 in cash left behind by a guest.
Essa Khan found a bag of notes in a safe deposit box while carrying out a routine inspection of a room that had been vacated by a Japanese worker.
Politicians have praised Khan for his actions and for creating a good news story following years of negative publicity from terror attacks and unrest.
Khan, 50, has worked for the past 20 years at the Gilgit Serena Hotel in northern Pakistan.
Hotel staff contacted the guest to return the money that was meant for a feasibility study into tourism projects in northern Pakistan.
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According to reports, the hotel has given Khan a 10,000 rupee ($116) reward for his actions.
Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, declared Khan a "national hero".
"He's a humble housekeeper and we are really proud of him," he said. "This is the face of Pakistan that people don't see normally."
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Jul 18, 2010 , United Arab Emirates
Sad..Pak media did not report this at all....if there is a fire craker every one will rush to the scene to film first..shame shame
Jul 17, 2010 , New Zealand
Very honourable as said by others. It is a shame that we do not see such integrity displayed more though, especially amongst the wider society. Good service is only another way of being kind to others, and integrity is rewarded by ones own sense of worth and value, not by monetary bonus. Dean San...