ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The development committee on Bari Imam Shrine, on Tuesday, maintained that “it will ensure that Bari Imam Urs will be held in April, since it could not be held for the last four years.”

The committee also took note of the delay in the expansion work at the shrine.

Bari Imam is one of the oldest Sufi shrines in Islamabad. Four years ago, the annual Urs — a gathering, that takes the shape of a festival, to commemorate the life and teachings of the mystic, Bari Imam, attracting people from all over the country — was cancelled due to security reasons. And ever since, the tradition   could not be revived.

However, the chairman Senate, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, heading the development committee meeting, taking serious note of the delay questioned: “If the government could hold a procession for Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain, then why not Urs of Bari Imam?”

Chairman Senate also took note of the delay in expansion work at the shrine.

According to the approved plan, external arcade — shrine and minaret — are being constructed in the first phase.

The second phase includes construction of a mosque, private rooms and a hall for devotees, Auqaf office, main compound and public toilets. Once completed, the 300-kanal project will have the capacity to accommodate 44,000 devotees.

The Rs600 million re-modelling, initiated in 2008, had to be completed in a year’s time. But three years on, it is still incomplete.

However, Bari Imam’s consultant informed the committee that only 84 per cent of the renovation work was complete, while funds for the second phase were still awaited. Senator Bukhari directed the chairman CDA Syed Tahir Shahbaz to release the funds for the development of Bari Imam.

It was also decided in the meeting that on January 21 the development committee would visit the shrine and in case of any loophole in the work, the matter would be resolved on the spot.

Regarding the issue related to water supply, Senator Bukahri said: “The natural supply of water streams in the area — closed for unknown reasons — should be opened again.”