ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The three-day celebration of the 773rd Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar wrapped up, drawing over 2.5 million devotees to Sehwan in Jamshoro district, as estimated by officials. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was present at the closing ceremony.
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister expressed concerns about the federal government’s lack of financial support for the project to widen the Indus Highway between Sehwan and Jamshoro, aimed at preventing accidents. He highlighted that the Sindh government had already contributed Rs 7 billion, covering half of the total project cost. Shah mentioned that he had personally requested Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to release funds for the highway’s completion.
The event featured various cultural activities, including exhibitions of art and handicrafts, traditional wrestling, folk and literary conferences, and musical performances, which attracted a large number of attendees. A key focus of the event was on conducting academic research into the life, philosophy, and teachings of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. It was suggested that his poetry be included in school curricula to help the younger generation connect with Sindh’s mystical heritage. Conference attendees emphasized that the revered figures like Qalandar often used poetry as a medium to spread messages of love and truth.
In a thought-provoking remark, Deputy Commissioner of Dadu district, Mukhtiar Ali Abro, refuted the idea that young people visit the Urs celebrations just to enjoy music and dance. Instead, he explained that the youth attend these gatherings to learn about the teachings of Qalandar and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, highlighting the spiritual importance of the event.
