Reconstruction and Renovation Work of Blue Mosque Started in Mazar-e-Sharif

In a ceremony, held in Mazar-e-Sharif with the participation of the Governor and Administrative Board of Balkh Province, Deputy Minister of Construction Affairs, Directors and officials of the Ministry of Urban Development and Land – MUDL, Ulema, influential elites and representatives of the Provincial Council, officially initiated the reconstruction and renovation of Blue Mosque, aka, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital of Balkh.

Moreover, in the beginning of the ceremony, Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Rahgozar, the governor of the province spoke and considered the restoration of monuments as important to preserve the historical originality, thanked and appreciated the cooperation of MUDL and the attention of H.E the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and promised to cooperate in the better implementation of this important project.

Then, Mr. Sayed Nasim Khaliq, Deputy Minister of Construction Affairs added that he was satisfied with the guidance of H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the decision of the National Procurement meeting, and today the work officially started.

In addition, he added; the restoration and reconstruction of the holy shrine was one of the commitments of H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, for the honorable people of Mazar-e-Sharif, which is being implemented today. During his speech, he also added; H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in the National Procurement Commission at the same time with the purpose of the project to restore and rebuild the holy shrine; issued serious instructions in adapting to the quality and speed of action in specified time, the Ministry of Urban Development and Land is committed to implementing the instructions of H.E the President of Afghanistan.

In the end, Mr. Sayed Nasim added the Ministry of Urban Development and Land has taken valuable steps in growth and excellence of the culture and history of this country through the restoration of historical monuments, one of which is the reconstruction of the holy shrine.

Subsequently, Mr. Ali Farhad Bayat, Director of the Department of Restoration and Renovation of Historical Monuments of MUDL, provided information about the different parts of the project, adding that repair and reconstruction of holy shrine, reconstruction of the surrounding wall, repair of entrance gates, toilets, pond Waterworks, sidewalks, reconstruction of pavements and construction of water storage are important issues that will be given foremost attention.

The Ministry of Urban Development and Land, under the guidance of His Excellency the President, has begun the work of repairing the holy shrine in Mazar-e-Sharif at a total cost of more than 119,000,000 AFN and is committed to thoroughly reconstruct and renovate this historic monument.