Chandelier from Mazar-e-Quaid going to National Museum

The iconic chandelier that adorned the Mausoleum of the Father of the Nation for 45 years will soon be displayed at the National Museum of Pakistan.

The four-tier chandelier, gifted by the Muslim Association of China in 1971, was removed in 2016 when a new chandelier, also donated by China, was installed. The original fixture — an 80-foot-tall masterpiece weighing two tons — featured nearly 10,000 crystal strands, 48 green lamps, and gold-plated trimmings.

According to Resident Engineer of the Mazar-e-Quaid, Abdul Aleem Sheikh, a four-member technical committee reviewed multiple proposals for relocating the chandelier, including the Jinnah International Airport, Islamabad Airport, President House, and the Sindh Assembly. However, none of these sites met the required ceiling height for installation. The plan was therefore deferred for nine years.

The Mazar-e-Quaid Board, in its meeting on Octrober 24, finally approved the National Museum as the chandelier's new home. A specially designed structure — inspired by the architecture of the Mazar-e-Quaid — will be built within the museum, featuring concrete and glass elements echoing the mausoleum's dome and marble stairs.

Sheikh said the relocation and installation are technically complex tasks expected to take about a year to complete. He added that the display would preserve a significant symbol of Pakistan's early post-independence craftsmanship and China-Pakistan friendship. The chandelier, a gift of devotion from Chinese Muslims, will now become part of Pakistan's national heritage — a tribute to shared history and an inspiration for future generations.