Historic Baba Ji Mosque in Ghazni Reopens After Renovation

The historic Baba Ji Mosque, recognized as the first mosque built by Muslims in the old city of Ghazni, has officially reopened following extensive renovations. The reopening ceremony was led by Mawlawi Atiqullah Azizi, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture at the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Attendees included Engineer Haseebullah Naseemi, Director of Historical Monuments, along with officials from the Ghazni Department of Information and Culture, religious scholars, tribal elders, and cultural figures.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Azizi emphasized that the Baba Ji Mosque was originally constructed during the era of Islam’s third Caliph (khalifa), Hazrat Uthman (Osman) (may Allah be pleased with him), as a two-story structure in Ghazni’s old city. He highlighted that preserving historical and religious sites is not only a religious duty but also a cultural responsibility of the Islamic Emirate.
Azizi further explained that the mosque had been meticulously restored under the leadership of the Ministry, with support from the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation, ensuring the preservation of its traditional style and artistic architecture.
A representative from the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation noted that the total cost of the project was $150,000, fully funded by the Foundation. The restoration work was completed over a span of 14 months.
Meanwhile, Mullah Hamidullah Nisar, the Director of Information and Culture in Ghazni, expressed his gratitude to the Foundation for the high-quality implementation of the project. He also encouraged both the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Aga Khan Foundation to continue their collaboration in restoring other historic monuments throughout the province.
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