HYDERABAD: The formal inauguration of the 774th annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was held on Saturday, with Sindh Minister for Auqaf Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi laying a floral wreath at the Sufi saint’s shrine and offering special prayers.
Divisional Commissioner Fayaz Hussain Abbasi, DIG Tariq Razaq Dharejo, Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Ghazanfar Ali Qadri, Chief Administrator Auqaf Mukhtiar Ali Abro, SSP Jamshoro Mohammad Zafar Chhanga, Chairman Sehwan Municipal Committee Syed Shahzad Haider Shah, along with other senior officers, were present on the occasion.
Talking to the media, the provincial minister said that Sindh is the land of Sufis and saints who spread the message of peace, love and brotherhood, adding that due to these teachings the region has historically remained a centre of harmony.
He stressed that in the prevailing circumstances, promoting the message of Sufis was essential to counter terrorism, intolerance, extremism and other negative social trends. He said that the Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is the largest Urs in the country, and around three million pilgrims are expected this year, while approximately 2.8 million devotees attended the Urs last year.
Responding to a question, Shirazi said that all possible measures have been taken to provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims. Replying to another question, he said that development works were continuously underway in Sehwan, adding that additional development schemes would be included in the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP).
The provincial minister also strongly condemned the recent bomb blast in Islamabad and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the incident. The Pakistan Army and the Government of Pakistan are actively engaged in operations against terrorism, and terrorism will be completely eradicated from the country, he said.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Ghazanfar Ali Qadri presented the Shahbaz Memorial Shield to the provincial minister. The minister also distributed clothes and gifts among deserving women in the courtyard of the shrine.
Traffic plan
On the occasion of the annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA) in Sehwan Sharif, a large number of devotees from across the country were arriving to attend the event.
To ensure safe, smooth and uninterrupted travel for pilgrims, the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) South Zone had implemented special security and traffic arrangements, adds our correspondent.
Officials said that under the directions of Additional Inspector General (AIG) South Zone Munir Ahmed Sheikh and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Fareed Ali, a comprehensive traffic management and security plan had been enforced.
Additional personnel had been deployed on major highways, motorways and at the Sehwan Toll Plaza, while effective patrolling and continuous monitoring were being carried out to maintain smooth traffic flow.
