The majestic minaret of “The Pakistan-day
Memorial,’ stands exactly at the place where, in a historic session of the All
India Muslim League, the Pakistan Resolution was passed. This representative
gathering of the Muslims of Indo-pak subcontinent was held in the lqbal Park at
Lahore on March 23, 1940, under the president ship of Quaid-i-Azam. The actual
resolution demanding Pakistan’ was presented by Late Matlvi Fazalu Haq of
Bengal, and ‘as adopted by the general public unanimously. This resolution was
declaration of great historic importance and gave full force to the battle of
freedom, which resulted in the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
The Pakistan day Memorial reminds the nation of the
early days of her struggle for Pakistan, and therefore, is a living memory of
the sacrifices which the Muslims of this subcontinent gave to achieve their
goal.
The construction of the Pakistan-day Memorial was
started in 1960, and it took eight years to complete it at an estimated cost of
Rs. 65 lakh. The need for erecting a memorial at the place where the Pakistan
Resolution was passed was felt after about thirteen years of Pakistan birth,
when a Lahore daily published an article inviting the attention of the people
to this issue. Immediately, the Governor of West Pakistan, Mr. Akhtar Hussain
issued an appeal to the public for contributions, and a ‘Pakistan-day Memorial
Committee’ was set up to collect funds.
Originally, it was estimated that the memorial
would cost Rs. 5 lakh only. Mr. Murat Khan a Turkish architect, prepared a
design for the memorial, and the then Governor laid the foundation stone at a
simple ceremony on 23rd March, 1960. According to the first design the entire
memorial, with 113 feet high minaret was to cover an area of about 160.000
square feet. But the plan was revised in 1965 and the final design was
approved. The construction of the memorial was entrusted to Ms Mian Abdul
Khaliq & Co. and the work was completed on 23rd March, 1968.
The Pakistan-day Memorial minaret is one hundred
ninety feet and six inches high. It rises on ten vertical slabs from a platform
shaped like a five pointed star, enclosed by two crescent-shaped pools,
embracing each other, to signify the unity of the East and West Pakistan. The
pools have been lined with green and red marble. The access to the tower and
the rostrum over the pools is equal, and represents the equal contribution of
the people. The tower has ten converging slabs, decorated with flower petals.
It also has sight-seeing platforms and a central spiral staircase. The circular
diameter of the tower is 320 feet. T crescent shaped water pools are four feet
deep, while the star shaped platform is 12 feet high. The 30 feet high petals
look like the petals of a blooming daffodil. The total height of the structure
is 203 feet from the ground level. The inscriptions on the marble slabs of the
central shaft of the tower give a brief history of the Pakistan Movement in
English, Urdu and Bengali.
To depict the history of the Pakistan Movement
symbolically Taxila-stones have been laid roughly in the first platform. This
represents the humble and dis-organized start of the freedom movement in the
indo-pak subcontinent. Then, hammer- dressed stones have been used for the
second platform. The third platform is built of well-chiseled stones. While the
fourth and the final platform is built of highly polished marble symbolizing
the ultimate success of the struggle. The dome is made of stainless steel,
inlaid with five glass pieces. There are four stages spread over 162 stairs. The
last stage offers a panoramic view of Lahore. The beauty of the Memorial has
been incased with we1lid parks around it. The passages have been built after
the Mughal pattern, and these are eight marble fountains on the main paths to
add to the beauty of the Memorial.
The Pakistan-day Memorial is a monument
of great historical importance. Although looking small in contrast to the
mighty red-stone-minarets of the Badshani Mosque, it is a befitting tribute to
those who laid their lives for the struggle of Pakistan. It is a symbol of the
great battle fought by 100 million Muslim of this sub-continent under the
command of Quaid-i-Azam to achieve their freedom.