Lahore (Web Desk): The 980th Urs celebrations of Sufi saint Hazrat Ali bin Usman Hajwiri, known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, began in Lahore on Tuesday.
The three-day Urs will be held at the shrine of the Sufi saint from September 5 to September 7.
Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi during his visit to Data Darbar announced a public holiday in Lahore on Thursday, September 7.
Naqvi ensured special Sabeel arrangements outside the Darbar and also ensured a seamless experience for all visitors.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Punjab Auqaf Minister Barrister Syed Azfar Ali also visited Data Darbar on Monday to finalize the arrangements for annual Urs. He also reviewed arrangements regarding security, cleanliness and Mehfil-e-Samaa. Minister said that caretaker Punjab Chief Minister was personally monitoring arrangements related to the annual Urs.
The minister said that Punjab Food Authority will ensure best hygiene arrangements related to ‘Langar’ and ‘Sabeel’ of milk and water. He said that special teams of Rescue, Polio, Dengue and Health would be allotted during three days of the Urs.
Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs Secretary Syed Tahir Raza said that his department had allocated Rs125 million for free food and other arrangements during the Urs for devotees.
He further said that Department had also deployed 45 security guards, while 74 guards had been hired from a security company.
“A bomb disposal squad will also be present at all times. Rescue 1122 staff along with five ambulances and motorcycles will of duty round the clock along with special arrangements in nearby hospitals, ” the secretary Auqaf said.
According to officials, the minister gave special directions to CCPO and DIG Operations to ensure foolproof security during the Urs. 2,500 closed-circuit cameras and a control room have been set up for safety of the visitors, while policewomen will also be deployed for the purpose.
Medical camps have been set up on the premises of the Data Darbar complex and in the basement of the mosque. While arrangements for ablution and drinking water supply have been completed.