A Sacred Celebration of Devotion and Unity
The 982nd Annual Ghusal Mubarak Ceremony, honoring the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Al-Shaikh Al-Syed Ali Bin Usman Al-Hajveri (RA), known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, was celebrated with deep religious devotion and reverence. The event took place on Saturday, drawing a large number of devotees and dignitaries who gathered to honor the spiritual legacy of the saint.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by soul-stirring Naat recitations by renowned Naat khawans. The traditional ghusal of the shrine was conducted using rosewater, accompanied by the symbolic act of Chadar Poshi and the laying of floral wreaths. Special prayers were offered for the peace, prosperity, and stability of Pakistan, reflecting the collective aspirations of the attendees.
Dignitaries Attend the Ceremony
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar served as the chief guest at the event. He was accompanied by Provincial Ministers Chaudhry Shafay Hussain and Bilal Yaseen, along with other prominent figures such as the CCPO, departmental secretaries, and respected religious leaders. During his visit, officials provided him with an overview of key development projects currently underway at Data Darbar. These include traffic management upgrades, expansion of various sections of the shrine, and architectural improvements inspired by the umbrella-style canopies of Masjid-e-Nabawi.
Commitment to Expansion and Development
In a press interaction later, Ishaq Dar expressed his deep respect for the spiritual and cultural heritage of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA). He praised the Punjab government, particularly Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for approving and facilitating ongoing expansion initiatives at the shrine. He mentioned that the development work, including internal height enhancement and improved circulation space, is progressing rapidly and is being supported by the Madina Foundation. “Our collective aim is to complete these projects before next year’s Ghusal ceremony,” he stated.
Ishaq Dar also recalled the first major expansion of the shrine in 1999 under former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which doubled its area. He added that the current projects aim to triple the capacity of the shrine to better accommodate the growing number of devotees.
Economic and Political Insights
The Deputy Prime Minister credited the tenure of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from 2013 to 2016 for bringing economic stability to the country. He highlighted that Pakistan had become the 24th largest economy, with inflation at a historic low of 2 percent and growth at 6 percent. He noted that the current government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is working diligently to revive the economy and restore investor confidence.
He also emphasized Pakistan’s recent diplomatic and defense successes, which have earned it global recognition. “Pakistan has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years and assumed its presidency this month,” he informed. He further stated that the country is playing a constructive role in regional peace, including support for the Iranian people during recent Israeli aggression.
Coalition Politics and Economic Challenges
When asked about coalition politics, Ishaq Dar addressed rumors of any rift with the PPP. “They are our allies, and we have full support from them. We are committed to implementing the signed agreements between PML-N and PPP in letter and spirit,” he assured.
Regarding economic challenges, he acknowledged that the country was on the brink of default in 2022 but managed to avoid crisis due to difficult decisions taken by the PDM government. “Our reserves have now reached $14.5 billion as of June 30. Inflation has decreased significantly, and interest rates have come down by half,” he added.
