PM’s busy schedule delays inauguration of Iqbal Park

Renovated park to be officially opened for public on November 12

LAHORE: Inauguration of Greater Iqbal Park has been postponed owing to the busy schedule of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had to be invited as the chief guest for opening the renovated park.

The government was to inaugurate the historic park today (Wednesday November 9, which is celebrated as Iqbal Day in Pakistan). The park will now be opened for public on Saturday (November 12), The Express Tribune has learnt.



Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director-General Shakeel Ahmad said the prime minister would visit Lahore on the weekend and the government decided to reschedule the inauguration programme. “The development work has been completed and the park is ready to be opened for the general public,” he said. “The authority has also completed all horticulture works except grass on some small patches.”

Though not in the original renovation plan, the authority has built a flag post in the park as well. “Most of the work has been completed and it will be ready today,” Shakeel said.

Salient features

Highlighting the salient features of the park, the PHA chief said the Greater Iqbal Park was the only thematic park in the country that had been developed around the history of Pakistan and the Independence Movement.

Mughal architectural designs have been used everywhere in the park while four national memorial monuments have been built as well. The architecture of food court gates has been designed to depict the history and culture of all four provinces as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Though the National History Museum and amphitheatre would take some time to complete, it would be a great attraction for history lovers or for the people who wanted to know about the history of Pakistan. In addition, cybernetic (dancing) fountains, buggy ride, soft wheel train ride and golf cart ride were a few other great attractions for general public, Shakeel said.

Speaking about horticultural features at the park, he added the PHA had introduced colourful flowering species in different sections of the park.



Project Contractor Mukhtar Nazir disclosed his company had completed 98% development work and the park was ready for inauguration. “We are giving final touches to the park as the government has given three more days,” he added.

The initiative

The Greater Iqbal Park project was originally envisioned in 2013-14 but work on it could not commence due to non-availability of funds. The project was initiated in 2015 and the government had fixed June 30, 2016, deadline for its completion but it was delayed.

The park is spread on about 127 acres, comprising circular garden and existing access road of about 26 acres, 45 acres of Greater Iqbal Park/Guddi Park and 56 acres of Minar-e-Pakistan.

The conceptual design for the park originated from the idea of enhancing the area for creating a welcoming environment within the densely populated areas of the walled city and adjacent inner city.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2016.