Central Waqf Council Member and Chairperson Waqf Development Committee of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi completed her two day visit to Rajouri where she visited and inspected the management of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah shrine at Shahdara Sharief. She was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of Jammu Waqf Council and Administrator of Shahdara Sharief Shrine. Andrabi met a delegation of senior citizens of the district, visitors and the employees of the shrine management and expressed satisfaction over management of the shrine and the facilities created for pilgrims there. Talking to reporters after the visit, she said many things are needed to be done at the earliest to cope up with the rush of pilgrims at the shrine. “This shrine can be presented as a role model for shrine management in J&K in many ways. I am very happy that with the help of locals, the management has succeeded in creating a praiseworthy mechanism of accounting donations at the shrine and creating facilities for the public,” she said adding: “I am assured that the much needed Sarai will be constructed there. The road leading to the shrine needs immediate repairs as its condition is very troublesome for visitors.” Dr Andrabi also said that Waqf properties in other parts of the district and other shrines also need immediate attention as their condition is also not so well. She wished that Waqf in both the regions of J&K should be managed by a single body and by similar regulations. “I am also of the opinion that a Madrasa Board may be formulated in J&K as a subsidiary organization of the Waqf Board,” said Dr Darakhshan.
