| Greater Iqbal Park گریٹر اقبال پارک | |
|---|---|
 TheMinar-e-Pakistan, central monument of the park | |
 Interactive map of Greater Iqbal Park گریٹر اقبال پارک | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Lahore,Punjab,Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 31°35′34″N74°18′45″E / 31.5928°N 74.3126°E /31.5928; 74.3126 |
| Area | 328.901 acres (133.102 ha)[1] |
| Created | 1968; 58 years ago (1968) |
| Owned by | Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore |
| Open | 06:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
| Public transit access | Azadi ChowkMetrobus Station |
| Website | https://www.pha.gop.pk/project-details-new?id=3 |
Greater Iqbal Park (Punjabi/Urdu:گریٹر اقبال پارک), formerlyIqbal Park[a] andMinto Park,[b] is anurban park located on the outskirts of theWalled City inLahore,Punjab,Pakistan.[2]
Noted as the home ofMinar-e-Pakistan, the 329-acre park includes an artificial lake which spreads over four acres which includes an 800-feet-longmusical fountain.[3] Other attractions includes a two-kilometre-long soft rail, a library, an open-air gym and a food court.[4][5] Thetombs of Iqbal andHafeez Jalandhari are also located in the park.[6]
The grounds known as Greater Iqbal Park today were used for ceremonial military parades during theMughal era. After the ascension of theSikhs into power in 1799, the grounds came to be known as 'Parade Ground', as the area continued to be used for the same purpose as it was by the Mughals.
When the British captured Lahore in 1849, they renamed the grounds as Minto Park, afterGilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, andGovernor-General of India between July 1807 and 1813.[7]
After the creation of Pakistan, the park was renamed as Iqbal Park, after the poet-philosopherMuhammad Iqbal, in commemoration of theLahore Resolution of 1940. After extensive renovations were completed in December 2016, the park was given its current name.
Work began on the upgradation of the park on 10 October 2015. Habib Construction Services Limited was contracted to complete the project. Along with renovation of theMinar-i-Pakistan, the project featured expansion of the Iqbal Park by including it in the stretch of Circular Road between the park andLahore Fort.The 125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost entirely by theold city of Lahore. The project was completed on 9 November 2016 incurring a total cost of PKR 981 million as quoted by the contractor of the project.[8]
The new-look park was formally inaugurated on 17 December 2016.[4][9]
Furthermore, theNational History Museum was opened in the park in 2018. It is the firstdigital museum in Pakistan that offers an immersive experience to visitors with the help of cutting-edge technologies. Using holograms and virtual reality equipment, this digital museum commemorates all the historic events leading to the emergence of Pakistan in 1947. Along with hosting a vast collection of national relics and antiquities, the museum also highlights the key sports and cultural events throughout the history of the country.[10]
The park features the following sites:[11]
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Landmarks of theWalled City of Lahore | |
|---|---|
| Gates | |
| Mosques | |
| Lahore Fort | |
| Tombs | |
| Others | |
