Srinagar, Aug 23: Waqf Board chairperson, Darkshan Andrabi on Tuesday asked the shopkeepers holding Waaf shops to pay rent as per the new assessment or vacate the shops so that the aspiration of unemployed youth could be accommodated.

“We have fixed new rent for the shops. We appeal to the shopkeepers holding the Waqf shops to pay rent at earliest,” Andrabi said.

She said that the shopkeepers and trade bodies should stop doing drama for not paying the rent and if they are reluctant to pay the rent, then they should vacate the shops at earliest.

“We have a large number of youth, who are unemployed and involved in drug addiction. We will give them a chance to earn a livelihood. At least 3000 youth having MBA and other degrees are ready to pay rent as per the new assessment. If the shopkeepers are reluctant to pay the rent, the youth would be given a chance to earn the bread and butter for their families,” she said, adding that the rent has to be paid as per the new assessment only.

Pertinently, Waqf board has taken series of measures to end the previous practices including fixing the new rent, removing the Mujavirs and their donation boxes from the shrines.kno