DADU: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah officially concluded the three-day celebrations of the 773rd annual urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan on Wednesday by laying a wreath on the saint’s grave and offering prayer.

He told journalists outside the shrine that most of the accidents on Indus Highway occurred due to incomplete construction of Indus Highway. The Sindh government had allocated 50 per cent of funds, amounting to Rs7 billion, in 2017 for the highway project, still it remained unfinished, he said.

He said that he had urged three prime ministers to ensure completion of the highway, and called on the authorities concerned to expedite work on its construction. Thanks to peaceful environment and better weather conditions a record turnout of over 2.5m people had attended urs celebrations this year, he said.

He commended overall management of the urs and highlighted better-than-expected administrative arrangements.

He said in response to a question about the case of Murtaza Jatoi that legal process had taken its course in expiry of Jatoi’s bail and the implementation of relevant provisions of law thereafter.

About development of sports infrastructure in Sehwan, Shah said that he too wished to see international cricket matches held in Sehwan but due to limited resources, his government focused on the development of Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium for which the Pakistan Cricket Board had also provided support.

The chief minister condemned recent tragic incidents involving dumper trucks in Hyderabad and Karachi and assured that the provincial government was fully aware of the issue and appropriate legal action was being taken in this regard.

He also urged the National Highway Authority to complete the Indus Highway without further delay.

Towards the end of the urs concluding ceremony, Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri, who also served as chairman of the Shahbaz Mela Committee, presented a commemorative shield to the chief minister, who in his turn distributed clothes and gifts among some underprivileged women in a gesture of goodwill.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2025