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Greater Iqbal Park

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Greater Iqbal Park
گریٹر اقبال پارک
The Minar-e-Pakistan, central monument of the park
Map
Interactive map of Greater Iqbal Park
گریٹر اقبال پارک
TypeUrban park
LocationLahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates31°35′34″N 74°18′45″E / 31.5928°N 74.3126°E / 31.5928; 74.3126
Area328.901 acres (133.102 ha)[1]
Created1968; 58 years ago (1968)
OwnerParks and Horticulture Authority Lahore
Open06:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Public transit
Azadi Chowk Metrobus Station
Websitehttps://www.pha.gop.pk/project-details-new?id=3

Greater Iqbal Park (Punjabi/Urdu: گریٹر اقبال پارک), formerly Iqbal Park[a] and Minto Park,[b] is an urban park, spread over an area of 125 acres, located on the outskirts of the Walled City in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[2][3][4]

Minar-e-Pakistan is the most notable monument located within the 329-acre park. It also includes an artificial lake spread over four acres which includes an 800-feet-long musical fountain.[5] Other attractions include a two-kilometre-long soft rail, a library, an open-air gym and a food court.[2][6]

The tomb of the poet who composed Pakistan's national anthem, Hafeez Jalandhari, is also located in the park,[3] while Lahore Fort, Hazuri Bagh (including tomb of Iqbal), Ranjit Singh Samadhi and Badshahi Mosque are adjacent to it.[2]

History

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The ground known as Greater Iqbal Park today was used for military parades during the Mughal-era. After the rise of the Sikhs into power in 1799, the grounds came to be known as 'Parade Ground', as the area continued to be used for the same purpose as it was before.

When the British captured Lahore in 1849, they renamed the grounds as Minto Park, after Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, and Governor-General of India between July 1807 and 1813.[3][7]

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the park was renamed as Iqbal Park, after the poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, in commemoration of the Lahore Resolution of 1940.[3] After extensive renovations were completed in December 2016, the park was given its current name. Prime minister Nawaz Sharif said, "This is not just any piece of land. It is where the Pakistan Resolution of 1940 was adopted".[2]

Renovation and expansion

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Work began on the upgradation of the park on 10 October 2015. Habib Construction Services Limited was contracted to complete the project.[2] Along with renovation of the Minar-i-Pakistan, the project featured expansion of the Iqbal Park by including it in the stretch of Circular Road between the park and Lahore Fort. The 125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost entirely by the old city of Lahore. The project was completed on 9 November 2016 incurring a total cost of PKR 981 million as quoted by the contractor of the project.[2][8]

The new-look park was formally inaugurated on 17 December 2016 at a cost of Rs981 million.[2][3][9]

Furthermore, the National History Museum was opened in the park in 2018. It is the first digital museum in Pakistan that offers an immersive experience to visitors with the help of cutting-edge technologies. Using holograms and virtual reality equipment, this digital museum commemorates all the historic events leading to the emergence of Pakistan in 1947. Along with hosting a vast collection of national relics and antiquities, the museum also highlights the key sports and cultural events throughout the history of the country.[3][10]

Features

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The park features the following sites:

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ official name from 1947 to 2016
  2. ↑ official name in during the British Raj

References

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  1. ↑ "TDCP Resorts & Stopovers". Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab website. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Nawaz inaugurates Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, says park not for sit-ins". Dawn newspaper. 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shah, Sabir (30 April 2018). "A history of Greater Iqbal Park (former names are Minto Park and Iqbal Park)". The News International newspaper. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Greater Iqbal Park to open for public on August 14". The Express Tribune. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "Greater Iqbal Park profile". Parks & Horticulture Authority Lahore (PHA). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Lahore". Lahore Division, Government of The Punjab. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Minto Park: Witnessing Military To Political Journeys". UrduPoint. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Development of Greater Iqbal Lahore". Habib Construction Services. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "PM inaugurates Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, says it's no place for sit-ins". Geo TV News. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Imran Adnan (23 March 2019). "New museum in Lahore brings Pakistan's history to life". The Express Tribune newspaper. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
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