Minar-e-Pakistan located in beautiful greater Iqbal Park Lahore formerly Manto park is a monument reminiscent of our forefathers' struggle for Pakistan.
This park or garden is beautiful as well as contains many historical events and moments which make it more fascinating and a must-visit place to visit in Lahore city of Punjab province in Pakistan.
Greater Iqbal Park Lahore's History
Greater Iqbal Park formerly Manto Park is said to be the second-largest garden in Lahore, while Jinnah Garden was the largest in terms of area.
Located right in front of Badshahi Masjid and Royal Fort or Shahi Qila Lahore, this garden used to have two-lane roads, the garden is still the same but it was renamed as Greater Iqbal Park Lahore.
Manto park was named after Lord Manto Gilbert Elliott. Apart from Lahore, there are two other gardens in the world called Manto Park, one in Ottawa, Canada, and the other in Allahabad, India.
Importance of this Landmark
Lahore Manto Park covers 18 acres. Before and after the formation of Pakistan, this garden was of great importance and this garden contains many historic moments. This was the place where the Holy Land, Pakistan was founded.
The Pakistan Resolution was passed on March 23, 1940, at a very large meeting of the All India Muslim League led by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Construction of Minar-e-Pakistan
Ayub Khan's government had decided to build a monument on the site to commemorate the Pakistan resolution, for which the world's leading and renowned architects were hired. Among them, a design by Turkish architect Nasiruddin Marat Khan was approved.
Construction of the monument began on March 23, 1960, and was completed eight years later, on October 21, 1968.
The 196 feet high minaret was named Yadgar Pakistan. Going there today, let us recall in our minds the scenes of almost 80 years ago when the slogans of the people were echoing in the enthusiastic recitations of our leaders at this place. The promise that was made here, after hard work, dedication, and great sacrifices, finally succeeded in its goal and we got a lovely country in the form of Pakistan.
Tourism and Attractions in Pakistan
Today, Pakistan is an attractive and beautiful destination for tourism and has a special place in the world thanks to its natural beauty and valleys. Tourism in Pakistan has all that a tourist thinks.
In addition to K2, the second-highest peak in the world, there are at least eight such peaks that are more than 8000 meters high and there is no other peak in the world like Passu Cones.
According to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with general tourism, Pakistan is also giving access to the holy places to the people of other religions and restoring their holy places, for example, opening the corridor of Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. So that tourism can be promoted in Pakistan with regard to holy places as well.
Biggest Amusement Park of Old Times
After the formation of Pakistan, Manto Park was the biggest amusement park for the citizens of Lahore, especially those living in the inner city or Androon Lahore. In those days there was no television etc. Most of the people were interested in various sports and used to come to Manto Park with their children in the evening.
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The biggest thing at that time was that no ride was needed to get to the park. People used to reach here on foot through the surrounding gates which are known as the 14 gates inside Lahore. And today these gates are called the ancient heritage of Lahore.
Activities here of Old Times
According to their choice of groups, people used to play cricket and some of them play volleyball matches in some places. On the one hand, hockey match was played and on the other hand, people used to entertain themselves by playing Kabaddi.
Such healthy and clean sports provided entertainment to the people and such sports created a spirit of competition and agility among the people.
Sain Sarkar's Shrine
In the same place where Baba Haider Sain's shrine is today, Baba Haider Sai used to sit on a dirty blanket. There were always five or seven people sitting next to him. Baba Haider Sai was buried in the same place after his death.
His raw grave remained for a long time. Gradually people started decorating the grave on their own and then a small mosque was also built. And today a beautiful shrine is visible here.
Guddi Ground
A large plot of Manto Park behind the shrine of Baba Haider Sai was dedicated to kite flying enthusiasts called Gaddy Ground. People used to fly kites freely here and every Sunday there were kite flying competitions in which people from other cities also come to take part.
Swimming Pool
There used to be the only swimming pool in Lahore on the side of Gaddi Ground and people used to come here from far and wide and buy tickets for 2 or 4 Aana's to enter this swimming pool and enjoy swimming.
Kabaddi Matches
Just in front of the swimming pool was a huge arena where wrestlers competed against each other. Every Sunday there was big wrestling that people used to come to see, the wrestlers who were supposed to take part in each of the big wrestlings were also had to go to the inner city on beautifully decorated Tanga the day before. There was a lot of rush here every Sunday and holiday.
Local Cricket and Club
The cricket club here was also very important and many famous Pakistani players were associated with this club who trained in cricket on this ground and made a name for themselves all over the world.
These cricketers include Fazal Mahmood, Lala Amarnath, Saleem Malik, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Sarfraz Nawaz, Shafqat Rana, Azmat Rana, Imtiaz Ahmed, Nazar Muhammad, Mudassar Nazar, Majid Khan, Javed Bukhari, Jared Burki, and Shujauddin like prominent players are included. Imran Khan, who is now a prominent politician and Prime Minister of Pakistan, also used to play cricket here.
Other Sports and Activities
Gully Danda was also played here, but it was not a very popular sport due to injuries to the players and spectators during the game.
In some places, old men sitting in the corners playing cards would be seen those days. There was also a hockey ground in Manto Park where hockey players practiced daily and hockey matches were also held there.
Exhibitions or Mela
The Manto Ground, now called Greater Iqbal Pak, also hosted a large industrial exhibition every year with stalls of various industries, from where people could buy necessities of life at discounted prices.
The exhibition was also featured food stalls, circuses, theaters, swings of various kinds, for entertainment for children and adults alike, in those days. Those exhibitions had been lasting for two months and the people of Lahore were used to awaiting the exhibition throughout the year those days.
Tomb of Hafeez Jalandhari and Allama Oqbal
After the construction of the monument in Pakistan, the ground was renamed Iqbal park. Some time ago, a huge complex for indoor sports was built in the same garden on the side of Lari Adaa.
On the same ground near the memorial of Pakistan is the grave of our national poet Abul Asr, Hafeez Jalandhari who has the honor of writing the national anthem of our Pakistan. A large number of tourists who come here for entertainment visit his shrines to pray for him.
Expansion and Development of Iqbal Park
When the Punjab government of Pakistan planned to expand Iqbal Park to make it a Greater Iqbal Park, the area of the park was supposed to be increased to 125 acres. Along with the expansion of the garden, there was also the renovation of the park. Work on the project began in 2015 and was completed on November 9, 2016, at a cost of Rs.981 million.
The roads between Badshahi Mosque and Yadgar Pakistan have been removed and made part of the garden. Similarly, Badshahi Masjid, Shahi Qila, the shrines of Allama Iqbal, Hafeez Jalandhari, and Baba Sher Shah Wali were included in the boundaries of the park.
Things to do in Greater Iqbal Park
In a corner of Greater Iqbal Park, a beautiful artificial lake spanning 4 acres has been created. The place where this lake has been built is the same place where the river Ravi used to flow.
There are also some small boats for tourists in the lake in which the tourists sit, and boating in the lake with great enthusiasm.
In addition, musical fountains have been installed in the lake, the colorful lights of which can be seen from afar.
There is also a small train for children. And in one part, a food court has been set up where food and drink stalls are set up for tourists.
The most important thing that has been built in this garden or park is the National History Museum which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif.
This museum is actually built to pay homage to the history of Pakistan so that our new generation can be fully aware of its leaders and historical figures who were struggling for this holy country, Pakistan.
There are regular guides who answer greatly, questions about history. No bags or food items are allowed inside the museum.
A visit to the museum provides a lot of useful information and also reveals what difficult paths our forefathers have gone through and then we have been blessed with Pakistan by Almighty Allah.
It is the result of the sacrifices of our elders that we are breathing a sigh of relief on this holy land today. We all have a duty to respect and protect this country. We must remember that if this is the country then we are, otherwise, we are nothing.
FAQs or Keypoints
Question: How many years did it take to build Minar e Pakistan?
Answer: It took about eight years (8 years) to complete as Construction of Minar e Pakistan was started on March 23, 1960, and completed on October 21, 1968.
Question: What is the old name of Minar e Pakistan?
Answer: Minar e Pakistan Park was known as Manto Park in ancient times.
Question: In which year was Minar e Pakistan built?
Answer: Construction was started in Minar e Pakistan in 1960 and was completed in 1968.
Question: What is the old name of Lahore?
Answer: There are several names that refer to the name of Lahore in history however, some names that we often see in history books are Luv-Pur, Lahwar, Lohar-Pur, and Loh-Pur.
Question: Why was Minar-e-Pakistan built in Lahore?
Answer: It was decided to build a monument on the site ( Greater Iqbal Park Lahore formerly Manto Park) by Ayub Khan's government to commemorate the Pakistan resolution which was passed on March 23, 1940.
Question: Where is Minar Pakistan located?
Answer: Minar e Pakistan is located in Lahore city of province Punjab, Pakistan, and coordinates are 31.5925°N 74.3095°E.
Question: What is the height of Minar Pakistan?
Answer: The height of the Minar-e-Pakistan monument is 70 meters.
Question: What is the color of Minar-e-Pakistan?
Answer: Minar Pakistan is made of white-colored marble and tiles like the color of clouds that give a feel like a crystal white place surrounded by lush green grass.
Question: In which Park is Minar-e-Pakistan?
Answer: Minar-e-Pakistan is located in Greater Iqbal Park Lahore that is known as Manto Park.