Rajouri, Mar 10: Chairperson Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Sunday expressed gratitude to the people of J&K for their “immense support” to the board in making it “more transparent and auditable”.
After laying the foundation stone for Jamia Masjid at Ziyarat Shahdara Sharief and Markazi Jamia Masjid here, Dr Andrabi said the resources of the board belong to the public and assets have to be utilised as per the broader public requirements and needs. “The reformative steps taken by the board have yielded great results and the process will continue,” she added.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Andrabi emphasized the expansion of developmental activities across J&K, particularly in Shahdara Sharief, where infrastructure facilities have witnessed substantial improvement over the past two years. She assured the completion of ongoing projects within the stipulated time frame.
Earlier, the Waqf Board presided over the Annual Day Celebrations of the Himalayan Education Mission and Himalayan College in Rajouri. She released their periodical and presented the Himalayan Mission Awards to civil services personnel for their outstanding contributions to society.
Accompanied by Secretary Aijaz Assad and other senior officers, Dr Andrabi chaired a meeting with district administration officials to review preparations for the forthcoming Ramadan festival. She directed officials to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply to all Jamia Masjids and shrines, facilitating devotees without inconvenience.
Dr Darakhshan stressed the importance of infrastructure maintenance, including repairing street lights for safety during night-time congregations. She emphasized the need for road blacktopping for the smooth facilitation of devotees, particularly the road from Thanamandi to Shadra Sharif.
Ensuring healthcare accessibility, Dr Andrabi instructed the Chief Medical Officer to provide essential medical services during the festive period. She also urged the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department to intensify market inspections to prevent overpricing and black-marketing.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to promoting pilgrimage tourism, Dr Darakhshan emphasized its potential to boost the local economy and foster interfaith harmony. The meeting was attended by various officials, including the Chief Executive Officer of J&K Waqaf Board, ASP, Administrator Waqaf, and other concerned officers.
