Iron fence built around Quaid's portrait

ISLAMABAD:

An iron fence has been built around the perimeter of the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah along Islamabad Expressway to ensure its safety, besides giving it a new look.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) installed the safety grill by adding new features in golden colour to highlight the history and culture of Pakistan, a senior official of the authority told the media on Wednesday.

The designs on the grill are prepared by renowned designer Jamal Shah.

He said a variety of lights were added to the portrait to make it more prominent and enhance its beauty at night.

Previously the portrait had collapsed due to lack of safety wall, but the new design is capable of competing with harsh weather conditions, he said.

The new portrait was completed at a cost of over Rs50 million, giving the founding father's message of Unity, Faith and Discipline with the features of Rohtas fort. The portrait designed by Jamal Shah was previously constructed along the Expressway near Koral in 2005 during former president Pervez Musharraf's tenure.

However, in August last year, it collapsed due to heavy rain. On Quaid's death anniversary in September and birthday in December, the federal apex agency had installed a temporary portrait before starting this project.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2021.