Days remaining to
Independence Day -
August 14

To meet maintenance and repairing cost of the newly constructed Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam (BQA) within the limits of the Quaid's mausoleum, the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Management Board (QMMB) on Thursday decided to impose and enhance various charges, including parking fees and entry fee to the museum. However, the meeting, held with Federal Minister for Local Government, Omar Asghar Khan, who is also the chairman of the QMMB, deferred a proposal of introducing entry fee for visitors. A committee has also been formed to study viability of developing playgrounds and parks in the peripheral area of the mausoleum.

The meeting decided to generate funds for maintenance of the Mazar and preserving its sanctity and cleanliness, said a handout. It added that establishment of souvenir shops inside the mausoleum was also approved by the meeting facilitating visitors to purchase souvenirs. Sources confided to The News that the participants of the meeting considered two aspects - first generation of funds in the case federal government does not come to rescue the QMMB, secondly the overwhelming number of visitors to the garden every day. Presently the garden is visited on average by 26,000 peoples daily. The meeting was apprised of the problems emerging due to the increasing number of visitors. Though security and other surveillance system is there but it sometimes becomes difficult for the QMMB staff to control the groups of vandals and anti-social elements, added the source. "Decisions taken on Thursday were aimed to stagger the rush and check the frequent entry of anti-social elements, pickpockets and carefree groups of youths," the source maintained.

The meeting also decided that visiting hours for families would be from 4 pm to 9 pm. Entry of visitors would be stopped after 8.30 pm, while the visitors would be required to vacate the premises by 9 pm. Ban on smoking and pan spitting would continue within the BQA. However, to facilitate the visitors, the meeting had allowed establishment of small shops and kiosks for light refreshments. Two rates have been approved for parking purposes: from 9 am to 4 pm; cars and taxis - Rs 5; buses and vans - Rs 10; scooters/motorbikes - Rs 2. From 4 pm to 9 pm; cars and taxis - Rs 10, buses and vans - Rs 20; scooters/motorbikes - Rs 5. Entry fee for the museum is Rs 3 for adults and Re 1 for children. A proposal for imposing entry fee to the BQA at the rate of Rs 3 for adults and Re 1 for students and children was also discussed, but no decision was taken. The committee formed to formulate the plan regarding land use of the mausoleum comprises Zaigham Jaffery, Qazi Faiz Issa, Fauzia Qureshi, Col Wahid and Resident Engineer of QMMB, Muhammad Arif.

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QUAID-E-AZAM ZINDABAD!

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

A lecture by Stanley Wolpert, Professor of History, University of California, Los Angeles. Delivered at a seminar organized by the Institute of Regional Studies: March 22, 1998.