LAHORE: The Punjab government is finalising arrangements for the 983rd annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), with authorities pledging comprehensive facilities, stringent security and smooth management for the millions of devotees expected to attend the celebrations.
The arrangements were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Special Adviser to the Chief Minister and Chairman Religious Affairs Committee Ali Dar at Hajveri Hall, Data Darbar.
Provincial Minister Bilal Yasin, LDA Vice Chairman Mian Marghoob Ahmad, Secretary/Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr Ehsan Bhutta, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ijaz, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, DG LDA Tahir Farooq, Pir Nazim Shah, Haji Aziz-ur-Rehman Chan, Administrator Data Darbar Muhammad Ali Khan, Maulana Nadeem Mukhtar and other political, religious and administrative representatives attended the meeting.
Ali Dar said, on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the government was making every effort to ensure exemplary arrangements for the Urs, with the comfort, dignity and security of devotees remaining its top priority. He said traditional milk stalls, chilled drinking water, extensive langar, modern ablution facilities and comprehensive security arrangements would be provided. He added that Mehafil-e-Samaa, international Qawwali performances and special Naat gatherings featuring renowned performers from Pakistan and abroad would also be organised during the Urs.
Briefing the meeting, Dr Ehsan Bhutta said preparations were progressing rapidly under the supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman. He said arrangements for sanitation, security, devotees’ facilitation and overall administration had been finalised, while dedicated cleanliness and service teams would remain on duty throughout the celebrations.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ijaz and DIG Operations Faisal Kamran assured the meeting that comprehensive security, administrative support and facilitation would be provided to all pilgrims.
Administrator Data Darbar Muhammad Ali Khan briefed participants on the shrine’s religious programmes and internal arrangements, while Maulana Nadeem Mukhtar outlined preparations for Seerat and Sufi conferences, religious gatherings and Qirat and Naat recitation competitions.
The DG LDA and officials of the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) informed the meeting that the under-construction underpass and adjoining roads would be opened before the Urs to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow for devotees.
Concluding the meeting, Dr Bhutta reaffirmed the Auqaf Department’s commitment to working in coordination with all relevant departments to ensure the peaceful, dignified and well-managed observance of the 983rd Annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026