LAHORE, Jan 1: The 969th annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh began here on Tuesday amid prayers for the country’s solidarity and prosperity.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the three-day Urs by laying wreath over the shrine. He offered ‘fateha’ and joined prayers for the national solidarity.

The Auqaf Department in association with other departments decorated and illuminated the shrine and has made available facilities for devotees.

Officials said the police had completed security arrangements by installing over 80 CCTV cameras and deputing scores of officials to monitor the proceedings. They said more than Rs8 million had been allocated for distributing free food among the devotees.

The CDGL has set up a control room at the DCO office by connecting it to all CCTV cameras installed in and around the shrine and at route to the procession scheduled to be taken out at the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain on Jan 3.

CHEHLUM: Commissioner Jawad Rafiq Malik said the route to the main procession had been cleaned and the city traffic police had issued an alternative traffic plan.

He directed the officials to increase the number of police officials, walkthrough gates and CCTV cameras on the route. He also sought installation of yellow searchlights so as to monitor the situation in case of fog.

LDA: The Lahore Development Authority has urged the owners/occupants of the temporary commercialised properties situated along 48 roads to get their properties permanently commercialised without further delay.

A press release issued here on Tuesday said since the permission for the temporary commercialisation of these properties had been terminated on Dec 31, the LDA could seal these without further notice.

The LDA additional director general (headquarters) on Tuesday transferred and posted four officers. Rehan Yousaf (assistant director law) has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of assistant director law (Directorate of Land Development-IV).

Farhana Mumtaz (assistant director law) has been posted in the Directorate of Estate Management-II, relieving Abdul Razzaq (deputy director law) from the additional charge. Ms Mumtaz will also act as coordinator between the office of the ADG (Housing) and Law Directorate.

Muhammad Imran (assistant director law) has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Assistant Director (Law) of Land Acquisition Collector-I, relieving Riaz Saadi from the additional charge. Riaz Saadi will continue to hold the additional charge of the Land Acquisition Collector-III.

Syed Ali Raza Bukhari (assistant director law) has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Assistant Director Law of Land Acquisition Collector-II.