Unparalleled achievement: Zardari inaugurates Pakistan’s largest mosque

Praises Malik Riaz for constructing architectural marvel

LAHORE:
Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday inaugurated the world’s 7th largest mosque located in Bahria Town.

Flanked by Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz Hussain, renowned religious scholars, and government officials, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman inaugurated the grand mosque.

Addressing the ceremony, Zardari said the mosque is a priceless gift for the nation.



Talking about his inspiration for the mosque, Malik Riaz said he had offered Eid prayers in Malaysia at the Mahathir Mohamad Mosque in 2006 and decided then to build a similar mosque in Pakistan. He also vowed to construct a big mosque in Karachi.


The mosque, which is constructed at a cost of over Rs4 billion, has an outdoor capacity of 70,000 and an indoor capacity of 25,000 people, making it the largest mosque in Pakistan.

It represents a fusion of traditional Islamic and Pakistani architecture.

With custom-made carpets from Turkey and over 50 luminous chandeliers imported from Iran, the mosque has a vibrant Islamic ambiance.

The structure comprises four minarets, each 165ft tall, and a grand dome, which is surrounded by 20 smaller domes.  The most fascinating feature is the exterior, which consists of 4 million, handmade Multani tiles.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2014.
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