Jinnah's rare photos go on display

Exhibition documents Quaid-eAzam's life and official engagements

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Thursday inaugurated a rare photographic exhibition documenting the life and official engagements of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah through the lens of his official photographer, Ziauddin Barni.

Titled "Quaid-e-Azam: The First Governor-General of Pakistan 1947–1948", the exhibition is being held at the National Art Gallery of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) as part of commemorative activities marking Pakistan's 79th Independence Day.

PNCA Director General Muhammad Ayoub Jamali accompanied the minister at the inauguration.

The exhibition was first showcased in 2023 at the Mohatta Palace Museum in Karachi in collaboration with Dawn Media. It was curated by Abdul Hamid Akhund and Hameed Haroon, while the current exhibition at PNCA has been curated by Mariam Ahmed.

The collection offers a rare visual chronicle of Pakistan's formative years through photographs taken by Ziauddin Barni, who served as Quaid-e-Azam's official photographer. Barni accompanied the founder on numerous official engagements and captured significant moments during his tenure as the country's first Governor-General.

Among the most poignant images are photographs of Quaid-e-Azam's final days and funeral ceremonies following his death in September 1948. The photographs provide an invaluable visual record of one of the defining moments in Pakistan's history.

Beyond their historical significance, the photographs offer a deeply human perspective on Quaid-e-Azam, capturing moments of leadership, public service, interaction and reflection during Pakistan's formative years.