*“Facilities for pilgrims will be created by Waqf Board on priority, public support is needed to streamline the working of J&K Waqf Board”: Dr Andrabi*
Chairperson of J&K Waqf Board Dr Darakhshan Andrabi today visited Ziyarat Zainshah Wali (ra) at Aishmuqam and took stock of the facilities there. She was accompanied by the members of Waqf Board Dr Ghulam Nabi Haleem and Syed Mohammad Hussain. Dr Darakhshan was accorded a rousing welcome by a huge gathering of people there. All Sajanishins & the dignitaries of Waqf Board alongwith representatives of local administration were also present during the visit. Waqf Board Chairperson took stock of the facilities for the pilgrims and also spoke to public delegations. She prayed for the peace and prosperity of the Union Territory. Later speaking to the media DR Andrabi assured that all basic facilities will be put in place by the Waqf Board soon at all sufi shrines in J&K. “These shrines add to the real beauty of our land and it is due to these sufi saints and spiritual icons of ours, we call this beautiful land the paradise on earth,” said Dr Darakhshan Andrabi. She said that her efforts for a special package from the Union Ministry of Culture for some of our sufi-shrines has bore fruit and we have got a huge upliftment financial package from government of India for the Shrine of Zainshah Wali (ra) which will be spent through tourism department of J&K government for uplifting the infrastructure & creating of facilities for pilgrims here. “Spiritual tourism will boost our economy and on the other hand also spread the spiritual message of our sufis and rishis to the whole world. Public has also to come forward to play their role in donating for the development of these shrines and also creating a social-service fund so that the needy are taken care of. I appeal to the rich people of the land of sufis to come forward to help in managing our shrines, to offer free services for the development of facilities at these spiritual centers, said Dr Andrabi. She assured that the era of transparency and accountability in Waqf has started in J&K. In reply to a question about the agitating Kashmiri Pandit employees, Dr Andrabi heavily slammed the forces who want to divide us as they did it in the past, but assured all that the government will do everything needed to see that such insecurities are addressed and a confidence in the genuinely aggravated youth is restored. She said that we cannot allow subversive & divisive separatist elements to lead us to pain anymore. She appealed to the civil society to come out openly against these cowardly insane people who want Kashmir to remain in boiling forever.
