Opening of expanded mosque brings cheer to Pakistani community

Pakistani expatriates are jubilant about the opening of their biggest community mosque in Dubai.

Ejazul Haq, Federal Minister for Awqaf and Religious Affairs of Pakistan, yesterday inaugurated the mosque, built at a cost of Dh4.6million with major contributions from Dubai's Pakistan Educational and Cultural Board (PECB).

The PECB also runs the Pakistan Education Academy, one of the oldest Pakistani community schools in Dubai.

General Ziaul Haq, the late President of Pakistan and father of Ejazul Haq, had inaugurated the new premises of the academy in 1988.

The mosque is also located in the academy's premises and can accommodate 2,500 people.

"We are thankful to Haji Mohammad Ashraf, chairman of the PECB, and other board members for taking the initiative to construct this beautiful mosque," said Shabir Ahmad, who had come along with his friends to offer Friday prayers.

Several other community members who had gathered at the new mosque expressed similar sentiments and said Pakistani expatriates should join hands to build other such projects in other emirates as well.

The mosque, built in 1970, could accommodate only 450 people within its premises then. It was the most popular place for prayers among Pakistanis and attracted thousands of worshipers on Friday because the sermon was delivered in Urdu.

Hundreds would stand outside and even on the road to offer prayers. It was then decided to rebuild the mosque with an increased capacity keeping in view the huge numbers of people coming for prayer, especially for Juma and Eid congregations.

Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had laid the stone for the construction of the new mosque in 2002.

Mohammed Ghaus Chaudhry, honorary Secretary of PECB, which supervised the construction work, said the new building will also house an Islamic Centre and an Islamic library equipped with audio-visual aids.

The mosque has a basement and two storeys, with separate praying areas for women.

Chaudhry also thanked several community members, especially Malek Riaz Hussain, a leading businessman from Pakistan, for their financial support to complete the construction of the mosque.

More than 3,000 pupils use the mosque for prayers. Well-known religious scholars will deliver lectures at the mosque.