LAHORE The 967th annual Urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri (RA), popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, will start on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif will inaugurate three day ceremonies by laying floral wreath at the shrine and inaugurating the milk sabeel. Auqaf Minister and Secretary, and Director Ehsanuddin Qureshi, Tariq Mehmood Pasha, and Tahir Raza Bukhari, respectively, are supervising the preparations regarding the Urs ceremonies. Millions of devotees from across the country will participate in the Urs and offer special prayers at the shrine. Seminars on spiritualism, Qirat and Naat competitions, debate contests and lectures will be held to mark the event. A large number of Ulema, Mashaikhs, spiritual leaders and Gaddi Nasheens from across the country will participate in the preaching congregations and meetings. Over 500 ulema, mashaikhs, religious scholars and custodians of popular shrines from all over the country and abroad will gather at the Urs ceremonies to conduct various spiritual sittings where thousands of devotees will be attending to gain spiritual satisfaction. These gatherings will be presided over by personalities such as Syed Muhammad Bilal Chishti of Ajmer Sharif in India, Diwan Syed Tahir Nizami from Mehroli Sharif, also in India, Khwaja Fakhruddin Fakhri, Syed Ahmad Ashraf Shah, Ghulam Qutubuddin, Nazeer Ali Shah, and Baqar Ali Shah. Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh (RA) significantly contributed to the spreading of Islam in the sub-continent and his teachings were the source of guidance for the Muslims of the region, said Justice (r) Nazeer Akhtar while delivering a special lecture at the Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan on Saturday. TheNation Editor-in-Chief and Nazria Pakistan Trust Chairman Majid Nizami especially participated in the programme, which the NPT and Pakistan Movement Workers Trust jointly organised to mark the completion of the 1,000 years of celebrations of the great saint. Prof Ghulam Serwar Rana, Vice-chairman NPT Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad and Director General Religious Affairs Auqaf Department Dr Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari also addressed on the occasion. Students of various institutions and people from various walks of life attended. Nazeer Akhtar said the Muslims not only should learn about the Islamic civilization but after learning should pass the same towards their families, children. He said if the youth wished for success in future, they must produce the qualities of love and respect in their minds and hearts. He said the Ummah loved their beloved Prophet (PBUH) and ready to sacrifice everything for their beloved Prophet (PBUH). Prof Ghulam Serwar said Ali Hajvari was at the highest position of spiritualism while the Islamic scholars of all the four jurisprudence had learned from the great Sufi. According to Ali Hajvari, the sufi is that who hold Holy Quran in one hand and Sunnah in other hand, he said. Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad said had the Sufis not been there, there would not have been Muslims. So in other words, we could say the creation of Pakistan was also the result of the Sufis in the region. He said the NPT has started arranging ceremonies to memories the great Islamic saints and this would continue in future. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police on Saturday directed the field officers to ensure such an atmosphere that those attending the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the forthcoming 967th Urs of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakish (RA) could perform their rituals peacefully. Javed Iqbal gave these instructions while presiding a joint meeting of Regional Police Officers, City Police Officers and District Police Officers. It was held at the Central Police Office here. During the meeting, the IGP directed all the officers to obtain assistance from Ulema, Peace Committees, elected representatives, trade leaders and representative of civil societies for taking measures for effective security on the occasions. He directed them that walkthrough gates and metal detectors should also be used in this regard. IGP Javed Iqbal also directed senior police officers to personally inspect the places of Majalis and the routs of processions in their respective areas. He said: Proper attention should be given towards the protection of important and sensitive points, mosques, imambarghas, places of majalis and routs of processions along with the deployment of the security officials. He also directed the officers of traffic police to prepare special traffic plans for smooth flow of traffic on these occasions in order to serve the general masses with out any inconvenience. Earlier, Addl IGPs SB & CTD, CCPO and RPOs briefed the IGP regarding the measures being adopted during the Chehlum and Urs. Meanwhile, the Punjab Rangers has beefed up security in major cities of Punjab to avoid any untoward situation on January 25. According to Punjab Rangers spokesperson, five companies of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) have been deployed in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Chakwal. The Auqaf Department has meanwhile made its own foolproof arrangements for the complete safety to the visitors coming from across the country, official sources said. In this regard, 80 cameras have been installed for monitoring the event. Some 300 policemen, 9 walkthrough gates and metal detectors have been provided to the staff. Besides this, 65 security guards from the Auqaf Department and 102 from private security agency have also been deputed. As many as 200 workers will remain busy to keep the premises clean while camp offices of different department including Wapda, Wasa, Civil Defence and first-aid will be set up during the Urs days. A number of prominent persons including 'sajada nasheens' of various shrines, Syed Muhammad Bilal Chishti from Ajmair Sharif India, Deewan Syed Tahir Nizami from Delhi India and Khawaja Fariddudin Fakhari will attend the ceremonies. Ulema and Mushaikh from the country will also participate the Urs celebrations and highlight the life and teachings of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh. The department has allocated Rs 4.5 million for the three-day Urs celebrations.