MEMORY OF INDEPENDENCE

Pakistanpaedia Minar-e-Pakistan

The base of the tower is raised approximately 4 metres from the ground. It rises up to approximately 13 metres. forming a sculpted, flower-like base. From this point it tapers as it rises. The base platform is shaped like a 5-point star and it encloses crescent shaped pools. The overall height of the monument is approximately 60 metres. It is constructed in reinforced concrete, all poured in-situ. The floors and walls are rendered in stone and marble. From base to some 181 feet height, concrete and steel has been used, while the top 16.5 feet portion is made of stainless steel to avoid it from corrosion. The lower portion / base is made of coarse marble, indicating the initial rough days of independence, while walls and upper portion have smooth marble showing gradual development and prosperity. On the base, all around the Minar are ten marble slabs of seven feet tall and two feet in width, on with 99 names of Allah have been written. Other inscriptions include excerpts from the speeches of Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan related to ideology of Pakistan, in Urdu, Bengali and English, besides the National Anthem in Urdu and Bengali and a verse from Dr Allama Iqbal. Some Quranic verses (Surah Baqarah, Surah Al e Imran, Surah Myedah and Surah Ra'ad) have also been inscribed. On the main entrance "Allah o Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) and "Minar-e-Pakistan" are inscribed. There are 324 stairs to go to the top, besides a lift. The first balcony is 30 feet high, second at 50 feet. There is a separate "Chabootra" abou 12 feet high some distance away from the Minar, on which Quranic aya "Allah al mashriaq wal maghrab" is inscribed. The resting place of Hafeez Jalandhari, the writer of the national anthem of Pakistan, is also in the courtyard of the minar. The Mianr was initially named "Yadgar-e-Pakistan" but was later rightly renamed as "Minar-e-Pakistan