Pul-e Khishti Mosque Inaugurated After Reconstruction, Restoration

The ceremony held in the presence of H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Speaker of Upper House, Chief Justice, Chief of the Supreme Court, Attorney General, Cabinet Members, Representatives of the Ulema Council and high ranking officials.

Moreover, H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani during entering the mosque was accompanied by acting minister of Urban Development and Land – MUDL Mr. Mohammad Jawad Peikar, Speaker of Upper House, Chief Justice, Chief of the Supreme Court, Attorney General and few ministers and advisors and unveiled the inauguration board of the mosque.

Then, Mr. Mohammad Jawad Peikar, spoke and thanked the President for his attention to the restoration of historical and Islamic monuments, saying that the mosque is the second largest mosque in Kabul, built in 1069 AH. It was renovated during the reign of Abdul Rahman Khan and later during the reign of Habibullah Khan, King Amanullah and Muhammad Zahir Shah.

Furthermore, Mr. Mohammad Jawad Peikar added, based on the special attention and guidance of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the restoration work on this glorious historical site began at a cost of more than AFN 129 million at the end of 1396, solar year and after 2 years today you are witnessing the result of the tireless work and real effort of the Ministry of Urban Development and Land.

Mr. Mohammad Jawad Peikar further added that the ministry based on the special attention of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, has started the restoration of historical monuments of Bala Hissar, which is one the heritage of the ancient Islamic civilization and various Islamic eras in Afghanistan, since awhile, there have been dozens of Islamic historic restorations, such as the Shah Du Shamshira Mosque and the Mosque of Mu'az bin Jabal in Kabul, the Mir Hazar Mosque in Kandahar, the Hirqa Mosque in Badakhshan, the first phase of Herat Mosque, and historic site such as the Haram Srai in Kandahar City, the Mohammad Akbar Khan hill, the cemetery of parliament martyrs and the Bagh Bala palace in Kabul and the Mosque in Charikar of Parwan, however, some of these projects have been completed.

Also, the ministry noted other projects such as the Mazar-e-Sharif Rawza Restoration Project, the Imam Zadeh Yahya Restoration Project, the Nur al-Islam Mosque Restoration Project, the tombs of Allama Sayyed Jamaluddin Afghan, Sayyed Ismail Balkhi in Kabul and Hindu’s Mandir in Ghazni province are currently in procurement phase and some of the projects such as; repairing the Ghayasi and Pol Khishti Mosque in Badakhshan, the Mir Hashem tomb in Bamyan, rebuilding the Qala-e Jangi in Balkh and the second phase of Herat's Mosque are in designing phase.

Mr. Mohammad Jawad Peikar has given information about the restoration projects of historical mosques of 1399, solar year, based on the guidance of the Office of Chief of Staff to the President, the ministry is committed to repairing the Alawodin abbey, the Shahrara Tower and the walls of the Koh-e Sher Gate in Kabul, the Sheikh Shahab abbey, the Hesarak abbey, the Afghanya Mosque in Balkh, the abbey of Baba Hussein Abdul Turk, the abbey of Khwaja Wahiduddin Khawafi in Herat, Akhund Zada tomb in Laghman and the Bost fort in Helmand.

Afterwards, H.E President then spoke and congratulated the mosque's preacher and worshippers and said that cleanliness is part of the faith, which unfortunately was not observed in the most sacred places in Kabul. "Fortunately, you are witnessing the reconstruction of the historic Mosque of Pol Kheshti, which is one of the oldest mosques in Afghanistan and has a long 300-year history.” He added.

The President said, he hoped that our promise to build mosques and other Islamic buildings would be fulfilled, and thanked the Ministry of Urban Development and Land for their efforts in the restoration of the Mosque of Pol-e Khishti, which reflects their commitment to our religion and culture.

The President reaffirmed that they must establish basic principles for the preservation and maintenance of all refurbished buildings so as not to lose them again if not managed. “I thank God for giving me the honor of repairing and rebuilding mosques, especially the Pol Kheshti Mosque, and I wish that it will become a source of confidence, dignity and honor for the people of Afghanistan.” He said.

The President added, the construction of 377 mosques in all districts of the country is ongoing and that 26 mosques in provinces that did not have a mosque were being constructed and prepared for worshipers.

Subsequently, Mawlawi Enayatullah Baligh orator of the mosque and the Presidential Advisor spoke about the benefits of constructing mosques in the religion of Islam and thanked the President's attention to the restoration and reconstruction of the Pol Kheshti Mosque.

At the end of the ceremony, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, while praying Isha prayer, also signed a memorial and a historic message on the restoration of the Pol Kheshti mosque to be deposited in the National Archives.