Aiwan-e-Mehr Ali Shah (Trust) was established in 1999 by Pirs of Golra Sharif, an extremely influential, enlightened and very well respected family of Mashaikh based in Islamabad. Syed Ghulam Moin-ul-Haq Gilani, eldest son of the present Sajjada Nashin (Care taker) of shrine of Golra Sharif heads the Trust which is developing some very important fora for promoting sufi teachings and cultivating values of love, compassion, tolerance and blending sufi wisdom with western sciences. The Trust has been publishing a magazine Mehr-e- Munir for the past five years and its regular features include the teachings of Sufi Masters like Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Rumi, Saa'di and Syed Pir Mehr Ali Shah. The Trust is also planning to establish a University whose core courses would consist of Information Technology, Sufism and Management sciences and it will groom students both from traditional Madrassas and colleges. This University will focus on research degrees with special emphasis on Sufism and contemporary societies. Feasibility for the University has been prepared and fund raising is underway. The Trust is also developing a website for Muslim youth in Pakistan and abroad so that the youth is prepared to carry   " the message of healing rather than instruments of violence". Trust also has a vision to form a network in the form of International Council of Mosques to give voice to the concerns of silent and peace loving Muslim majority and save it from becoming hostage to violent minority. A research and publication wing of the Trust publishes popular books on Islam and Sufism. An active engagement with the Patron of the Trust will create many critical openings for promoting the message of understanding towards USA and establishing clear distinction between terrorism and Islam in popular mind.

The Trust plans to undertake the establishment of following institutions in future:

• Mehr Ali Shah Community Welfare Programme
• Mehr Ali Shah Islamic Research Institute
• Mehr Ali Shah International Islamic University
• Mehr Ali Shah Council of Mosques.

A Community Welfare Programme has already been started by the trust in collaboration with Village friends Organization (VFO) with a proposed budget of Rs. 15 million. UNDP’s LIFE project, World Bank’s Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and Prime Minister’s development funds have provided  funds for this project. Project objectives consist of the following

• Promoting and supporting interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration for improved environment and effective delivery of social services;
• Providing Safe Drinking Water to the unprivileged community
• Provision of wastewater management and decreasing environmental pollution
• Improving solid waste management  
• Alleviating poverty through integrated development of the area through income generation / enhancing activities

Keeping in view the highly felt need for clear guidance on Islamic values and way of life by Muslims all over the world, Trust has decided to undertake activities to strengthen and promote the movement for Islamic Renaissance aptly described as  enlightened moderation.