Minar e Pakistan

In 1980s, Whenever I came to Lahore as a child, after crossing the Ravi River, the first thing I saw while going towards the Badami Bagh bus stop was the Minar-e-Pakistan, and that beautiful view brought lot of happiness. It was called yadgar e Pakistan that time and still old peoples in lahore used to call it yadgar. While going home from the base, I always stopped their and saw the Minar-e-Pakistan from the foothpath along with park grills.. My father always told me the story of minar e Pakistan and the creation of Pakistan. He himself had migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947, so his love for the events of the establishment of Pakistan was probably more than mine.Today's children probably only know about the Pakistan Declaration that it is a holiday. We should definitely tell our children the history of Pakistan so that they know how much hardship we went through to achieve this country.

The Pakistan Resolution

The Lahore Resolution also known as the Pakistan Resolution 1940 , was passed in Minto Park during the All India Muslim League session held on March 21-24, 1940. The 25-member All-India Muslim League Working Committee drafted the Lahore Resolution, Pakistan resolution between March 22 and March 23 of 1940. The Muslim League membership formally adopted the resolution at its general session on March 23, 1940, in Lahore. In British India, this resolution called for more Muslim autonomy for Muslim-majority provinces including Punjab, Bengal, Sindh, and the NWFP. Later on, though, the majority of people interpreted this as a desire for Pakistan, a distinct Muslim state. On the Working Committee's directive, Maulvi A.K. Fazlul Huq presented the resolution at Minto Park (now known as "Iqbal Park") in Lahore. In actuality, the Muslim League's objectives grew more focused on establishing an independent nation-state after the announcement in this resolution in 1940. The Minar-e-Pakistan building, which is located in Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, serves as a reminder of the resolution's significance today. Thus, reasonable notions of Muslims being divided have been circulating in the political climate of India.

Where is Minar e Pakistan

The minar e Pakistan is situated in Iqbal Park lahore.The Minar-e-Pakistan or "Tower of Pakistan," was constructed specifically to honor the Lahore Resolution. On March 23, 1940, a meeting of the All India Muslim League passed Qarardad-e-Pakistan. It took place at Minto Park, which is now known as Greater Iqbal Park These days.

Importance of Minar e Pakistan

Every year, the Pakistani government declares this historic event to be a national holiday, and the country commemorates it as Pakistan Day. The history of Minar-e-Pakistan is very important to each patriotic Pakistani person. On March 23, 1940, on this location the All-India Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution (later known as the Pakistan Resolution) , the first formal demand for a separate and independent homeland for the Muslims of British India, as supported by the two-nation theory.

Who Build Minar e Pakistan

On Nineteenth Anniversary of Pakistan Resolution , On March 23, 1959, the members of the Municipal Corporation Lahore unanimously passed a resolution to construct a monument to celebrate the passing of Pakistan resolution of 23rd March 1940 that resulted in the creation of Pakistan. Further to implement the resolution, In the chairman ship of Commissioner Lahore Mukhtar Masood, A 22 members Pakistan Day Memorial Committee was established.In addition to the Official members, the Committee included some prominent members of Lahore's intellectual / Civil community, including Adam Jee, Saeed Saigol, Naseer A. Shaikh, and Mian Muhmmad Shafi and Mr, Nasreddin Murat-Khan, An expert architect and advisor to West Pakistan Government's architectural Department.

Design of Minar e Pakistan

For Public Participation for the construction of monument, the Committee decided to run a public competition to invite ideas and design for the monument. The committee received many designs, but none met the criteria, so they rejected all of them. At this point Murat-Khan Pakistani architect of Russian descent, offered to design the monument and the national park. He offered his services at no cost in the end. That was his dedication to the nation and country country.

When Was Minar e Pakistan Built

In 1960, President of Pakistan Muhammad Ayub Khan approved the design of Minar e Pakistan and On March 23, 1960, Governor Akhtar Hussain of West Pakistan lay the foundation stone and persisted in pressuring the government to get funding for the project. The committee approved the design on November 2, 1962, and a few months later, in January 1963, it was finalized and work started in earnest.

Who Built Minar e Pakistan

Minar e Pakistan was designed Leaded by the architect Engineer Murat Khan. Usman Khan, an architect and engineer from Sargodha, assisted Murat Khan.Abdur Rehman Khan Niazi was the structural engineer and Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company (Contractor) was awarded the contract to construct Minar e Pakistan.

In addition to being a significant monument in Pakistan, Minar-e-Pakistan represents Mughal and Islamic architecture with a dash of modern flair.

The construction was finished on 31st October 1968 after eight years of work.

Construction Cost of Minar e Pakistan.

The total construction to build Minar e Pakistan was approximately PKR 7,058,000./-. Mian Abdul Khaliq Company owned by Mian Abdul Khaliq was awarded the contract. To meet the expenses, Additional taxes were imposed on movie and horse racing tickets and cinemas in order to raise the funds.

Design of Minar e Pakistan

The Minar e Pakistan is roughly 70 meters above the ground.The base's elevation is roughly 8 meters. , with the tower rising about 62 meters from the base. The flower-like base's unfolding petals reach a height of nine meters. The tower's diameter is approximately 9.75 meters.

Two crescent-shaped pools are enclosed by the base platform, which has the shape of a five-pointed star. The construction makes use of crescents and stars, which are symbols of Pakistani nation and part of Pakistani Flag.

Marble, stones, and reinforced concrete make up the construction. The Main entrance faces Badshai mosque. The base representing the fight for independence has four platforms. The first platform, which symbolizes the relentless, hard work of Indian Muslims in the fight for independence, is made from uncut and unpolished stones from Taxila. The second level is constructed of hammer-dressed stones, which portray the rough and harsh journey towards liberation. While the third platform is composed of chiseled stones, which symbolize the Pakistan Movement's growth, The success of Pakistan is represented by the use of polished white marble on the fourth platform.

How to Reach Top of the Minar e Pakistan
Beside Lift, There is 324 steps spiral staircase in the middle constructed with find glass fragments inlaid into the stainless steel to reach to the Top of the minar e pakistan. The first balcony is thirty feet high, and the second is fifty.

Initially, access to the highest floor of Minar Pakistan was permitted, but after some people committed suicide by jumping from Minar Pakistan, its highest floor was closed indefinitely.

Inscriptions in Minar-e-Pakistan

The building itself has inscriptions. The stone wall of Minar-e-Pakistan bears an inscription of the Lahore Resolution in textual form. English, Bengali, Urdu, and perhaps Arabic are among the languages in which it is written.

The 99 names of Allah and passages from the Holy Quran are inscribed in calligraphy on various panels, while the Pakistani national anthem is also inscribed in Bengali and Urdu. Excerpts from Muhammad Ali Jinnah's speeches in Bengali, English, and Urdu are also available. The walls also bear inscriptions of several of Allam Iqbal's well-known couplets.

Grave of Hafiz Jalandhari

About 12 feet from the minar, In the courtyard , there is a grave of Hafeez Jalandhari, the author of Pakistan's national Anthem.

The minar was formerly known as Yadgar-e-Pakistan before being renamed Minar-e-Pakistan.

Political Importance of Minar e Pakistan

Minar-e-Pakistan has a political significance. All political parties try to hold their political meetings in Iqbal Park. And that is why political meetings are often held here.

Minar e Pakistan and greater Iqbal Park

Minar-e-Pakistan, which is now also called Greater Iqbal Park, has many historical places around it, including the Badshahi Mosque and the Shahi Qila. A museum has also been built in Iqbal Park regarding the Pakistan Movement, which has memorabilia, videos and photos related to the Pakistan Movement.
If you come to Lahore, then definitely take your children to Iqbal Park once so that they can be aware of the Pakistan Independence Movement.