The Auqaf and religious affairs department will make foolproof security arrangements at 967 annual Urs of Hazrat Ali Bin Usman popularly known as Data Gunj Bakhsh scheduled from January 23.
While briefing the media persons, Haji Ashan-ud-Din Quershi provincial minister Auqaf and Religious affairs at the shrine of Data Sahib here on Wednesday said the ritual ceremony would be monitor with 80 security cameras installed at the vicinity to keep vigilant eyes on suspicious people to avoid any untoward incident on the eve of Urs.
"Walk through gates would be installed on all entry points where police officials alongwith metal detectors would search all the devotees before entrance" he pointed out. The police department would deploy 300 extra police officials to protect the life and property of the people in and around the shrine. Police would be assisted by volunteers of the shrine. As many as 65 security guards would be deployed. Quershi said the department hired the services of 102 security guards from private security agencies for duty during annual Urs days.
Quershi said the department allocated extra funds of Rs 4.5 million for arranging charity food (Langar) for the devotees and visitors. He said 500 religious scholars, Qaris and 200 spiritual leaders from the prominent spiritual families/shrines to participant in the ceremony.
Naat and Talawat competitions would be arranged among the prominent figures on January 22. Syed Hajvari Tasawaf seminar would be arranged at Punjab University on January 20 in which religious scholars and teachers of various universities would highlight the ideology, personality, contribution and teachings of Ali Hajvari.