Chairperson, Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi today laid foundation stone for Jamia Masjid at Ziyarat Shahdara Sharief and Markazi Jamia Masjid here. After inauguration, the Chairperson addressed a mammoth gathering, during which she highlighted that J&K Waqf Board has now become a strong organization and developmental activities in all parts of J&K have been expanded on big scale. “During the past two years, infrastructure facilities at Shahdara Sharief have got a big boost”, Dr. Andrabi said.
She added that in Rajouri district, Waqf Board has taken up many new projects out of Board resources and all projects will be completed within the stipulated time. The Chairperson expressed gratitude to people of J&K for their immense support to Board in making it more transparent and auditable. “The resources of the Board belong to public and assets have to be utilized as per the broader public requirements and needs”, she asserted.She added that the reformative steps taken by the Board have yielded great results and the process will continue.
Earlier, the Chairperson also presided over Annual Day Celebrations of Himalayan Education Mission and Himalayan College at Rajouri and released their periodical. She also gave away Himalayan Mission Awards to the civil services persons for their exemplary contribution to the society. The Chairperson was accompanied by Secretary, Civil Aviation and Planning & Monitoring departments, Aijaz Assad and other senior officers.
Later, the Chairperson chaired a meeting with officers of district administration to assess the facilities in place for the forthcoming Ramadan in the district. During the meeting, she issued instructions to officers to ensure that all required facilities are provided during Ramadan Festival for the residents of the district.
The chairperson, during the meeting, discussed vital issues like ensuring uninterrupted access to water supply across all Jamia Masjids and shrines and facilitating devotees without any inconvenience. The chairperson directed concerned authorities to maintain optimal water supply throughout the district. She also asked officers of PDD to ensure proper power supply during the festive period.
Furthermore, the Chairperson reiterated the vital importance of infrastructure maintenance, stressing the urgent need for proper repairing and functionality of street lights to enhance safety and accessibility for devotees during night time congregations.
Dr. Andrabi, on the occasion also addressed pertinent concerns regarding transportation infrastructure, highlighting the pressing need for the blacktopping of road notably from Thanamandi to Shadra Sharif for smooth facilitation of devotees.
The Chairperson, during the meeting, also underscored the critical role of healthcare accessibility during the festive period, instructing the Chief Medical Officer to ensure the availability of essential medical services to cater to the health needs of devotees and residents alike.
Dr. Andrabi also asked the Assistant Director of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department to intensify market inspections to curb instances of overpricing, profiteering, and black-marketing, thereby safeguarding the interests of consumers and fostering a climate of transparency and accountability.
Dr. Andrabi during the meeting, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting pilgrimage tourism in the district, underscoring its potential to not only enrich the local economy but also foster interfaith harmony and cultural exchange.
Among the others, the meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer J&K Waqaf Board, Majid Jhangir Shah; ASP, Musadiq Majid Basu; Administrator Waqaf, Abdul Qayoom Mir; ACR, Mohammad Jhangir Khan; SDM Thanamandi, Abid Hussain; DPO, Mohammad Nawaz Choudhary; DSWO, Wakeel Ahmed Bhatt; CMO, Dr Rajinder Sharma; EXEN PMGSY Rajouri, Shahid Mustafa; EXEN PMGSY Budhal, Imtiyaz Mir and other concerned officers.