Dubai, Dec 24: An Indian driver in the UAE has won Dirhams 15 million (Rs 33 crore) as the grand prize in a weekly lottery.

Ajay Ogula, 31, who has been working for a jewellery establishment, hit the jackpot after he purchased two tickets for his first-ever participation with Emirates Draw EASY6.

Currently working as a driver at a jewellery firm, Ogula came to the UAE four years from his village in southern India.

"During a random conversation with my boss, I mentioned reading about someone winning a handsome amount with Emirates Draw, to which my boss advised that you keep wasting money here and there, so why not use it instead on an opportunity like this'," he was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.

Following his employer's advice, Ogula installed the Emirates Draw mobile app and purchased two lottery tickets, it said.

As the eldest child, he felt obligated to support his family, including an ageing mother and two younger siblings who reside in an old, rented house.

"I was out with my friend when I received the congratulatory email. I thought, perhaps it's a smaller winning amount, but when I started reading, the zeroes kept adding up, and I practically lost my mind when I learned the final figure," he said.

Ogula plans to invite his family members to Dubai and then build a house for them in their village and also start a construction company to become self-sufficient, the report said.

"Congratulations to our Grand Prize winner, Ajay Ogula, on his epic win. Emirates Draw is not just about numbers and winners; it is about making a difference in people's lives and has been the goal from day one and will remain at the heart of all we do," said Mohammad Behroozian Alawadhi, Managing Partner, Emirates Draw.

"Our entire team is ecstatic for Ajay Ogula, and we are confident that this win will positively change his life and all the people around him," he said.

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Amritsar (PTI): Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that with digital transformation, economic reforms and a strong focus on the ease of doing business, India is moving towards becoming a global economic powerhouse.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 19th edition of the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) in Amritsar.

The former president said that this 19th edition of PITEX is being organised at a time when India is recognised as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) the former president, while referring to Punjab, said the state is a living example of courage, sacrifice and enterprise.

"The spiritual light of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) inspires peace and humanity across the world. The heritage of Punjab is deep and inspiring," Kovind said, according to a statement issued by the PITEX.

The former president congratulated the PHDCCI for hosting the 19th edition of PITEX and suggested that the chamber should expand PITEX outside Punjab.

He proposed that a similar event should also be held in New Delhi.