Tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
The Founder of Pakistan
Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah breathed his last on September 11, 1948 (may his soul rest in peace). The place for burial was selected in the heart of the city of Karachi. The Quaid-i-Azam Memorial Fund was created soon after the sad demise of the Quaid-i-Azam. It came into being through donations made by the public in response to an appeal by the then Governor - General of Pakistan. As the name of the Fund suggests, its object was to perpetuate the memory of the Father of the Nation in a manner befitting his dignity and fame. [1]
One of the most iconic structures in Pakistan and the defining architectural piece of Karachi, Mazar-e-Quaid is Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s final resting abode. This location has been definitely visited by almost everyone residing in Karachi; if you visit Karachi, this becomes a mandatory tourist stop, which you must visit on grounds of respect for the culture and for one of the great political leaders of Pakistan.
As you enter the grounds through the vast gates, what beholds is a lush garden dotted with a variety of beautiful flowers that further accentuate the beauty of the mausoleum. These gardens also have walking tracks that were built to facilitate visitors like yourself who may wish to take a stroll through the grounds while enjoying Karachi’s refreshing breeze. You can also choose to spend some quality time with your friends and family by having a picnic in these magnificent and serene gardens.
The roads surrounding the park and mausoleum have also been repaired to facilitate tourists visiting the area. Furthermore, in 2016, a non-governmental organization known as Shehri – Citizens for a Better Environment planted 100 saplings at Mazar-e-Quaid as part of their “Million Trees Campaign”. This does not only add to the beauty of this location, but also brings us closer to nature and makes us understand our responsibility of protecting it as citizens or tourists!
Further adding to the grandeur of the gardens are 15 successive fountains that lead up to the front of the platform that forms the base of the mausoleum. As you walk up the steps that lead to the entrance of the monument, you will see guards stationed at each corner of the structure, highlighting the importance of reverence of this location. This platform is also the site for the ceremonies that take place on special occasions, like the 23rd of March (Pakistan Day), the 14th of August (Independence Day), the 11th of September (Jinnah's Death Anniversary) and the 25th of December (Jinnah's Birthday).
As you walk in through the grand entrance, the first thing that will catch your attention is the magnificent four-tiered crystal chandelier that hangs from the ceiling. This was gifted to Pakistan by China as a show of goodwill. Right below this chandelier and within a walled enclosure lies the grave of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made out of white marble.
As you move on, you will see four graves in a row, along with another one located towards the north of the mausoleum. The latter, which is decorated with a series of black floral designs at the base, is the final resting place of Fatima Jinnah, Muhammad Ali Jinnah's sister. Out of the four graves in a row, the first two belong to Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and his spouse Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan. The other two belong to Abdur Rab Nishtar, who was an esteemed figure in the Pakistan Movement and Nurul Amin, who was the eighth Prime Minister of Pakistan. You will always find a large crowd of tourists and visitors around these graves, who come to pay their respects to all these individuals that played a monumental role in the creation of Pakistan.
All these graves are made of Italian white marble and are placed on a triple base. However, the feature that sets them aside from the one of Jinnah is that their sides are curving inward, while that of Jinnah are diverging outward.
Interestingly, in 1957, when the government decided to commemorate Jinnah by constructing a mausoleum for him, they decided to hold a worldwide competition, in which various architects and designers would compete by sending in designs of the tomb. Although a few submissions were shortlisted, Fatima Ali Jinnah was infatuated with the work of an Indian architect Yahya Merchant, who was also a friend of Jinnah’s. It was officially inaugurated by Yahya Khan in 1971 and made available for tourists to pay their respects. The beauty of this location, which adds to its exclusivity, is its modern structure complimented by the stucco dome, all of which is made of pure white marble to symbolize purity. The architecture of this place, consisting of copper latticework, is also very pleasing to the eye.
Mazar-e-Quaid is a location you cannot leave Karachi without visiting! It is a place a person usually visits only once in their lifetime so make sure to cover this stop on your visit to Karachi. If you want to appreciate a piece of inspiring architecture, pay your tribute to Jinnah, and spend a peaceful evening in lush gardens, you must put this spot on your list! [2]
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