Rajouri : Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Panj Peer Mosque in Rajouri and laid the foundation stone for the Minbar construction at Eidgah in Kotranka, Budhal, as part of her two-day infrastructure and community development tour of the PirPanjal region.
Former Minister Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, BJP District President Dev Raj Sharma, and Waqf Board Executive Officer Abdul Qayoom Mir accompanied the chairperson during the visit.During the first leg of the tour, Dr Andrabi formally inaugurated the Panj Peer Mosque and associated shrine infrastructure in Rajouri. The newly constructed mosque is expected to provide improved space and better facilities for local worshippers.
Later, she travelled to Kotranka in Budhal, where she laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Minbar at the Eidgah, a venue that hosts large congregational prayers.
Dr Andrabi also addressed a public gathering in Rajouri, where she spoke about development initiatives and highlighted the vision of “Viksit Bharat” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The events were attended by local residents, religious scholars, community leaders and officials of the Waqf Board.
Officials said the visit is part of a broader initiative by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board to strengthen religious institutions and expand public facilities linked to Waqf properties across the Union Territory. They added that several new development projects are scheduled to be launched during the tour, while a number of completed works will also be formally dedicated to the public.
These initiatives, officials said, aim to create modern infrastructure and upgrade facilities while ensuring that Waqf properties contribute to community welfare.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Dr Andrabi said the Waqf Board has made significant efforts in recent years to restore and develop mosques, shrines and other religious properties across various districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
She said strengthening religious institutions remains a key priority and the board is committed to ensuring that places of worship are properly maintained and equipped with better facilities.
“Our aim is to ensure that shrines, mosques and Eidgahs across Jammu and Kashmir are developed and maintained so that the community benefits from improved infrastructural facilities,” she said.
Dr Andrabi added that several new projects are in the pipeline and will soon be launched in both remote and urban areas. She stressed that the development of Waqf properties should preserve religious heritage while also supporting community welfare and social harmony.
Local residents welcomed the initiatives and expressed hope that such projects would further strengthen religious life and community cohesion in the PirPanjal region.
Among those present on the occasion were Ramesh Chander, Dil Mir, Jagat Ram, Azhar Mehmood, Samreen Khan, Manzoor Naik, TarunVasson, Captain Nazim Din, Shikha Bali and others.
