Adil Najam
We have had some fascinating discussions about on ATP about buildings and architecture. A few days ago Pervaiz Munir Alvi took us through a tour of Pakistan’s architectural history (here). His concern about architectural neglect was not unsimilar to that expressed by Raza Rumi (here) and SAJ Shirazi (here) earlier. Earlier we have looked in detail at the architectural legacies of various cities, including Lahore (also here), Karachi (also here), Multan and, of course, had spirited discussions about the new ‘7-star’ hotel – The Centaurus – being built in Islamabad (here and here).
The discussion has been rich and many have already identified what their favorite buildings in Pakistan are. Maybe we should invite others to also join the discussion identify structures that ‘do it’ for them.
What are your architectural preferences? Which buildings in Pakistan do you find aesthetically pleasing? Which would you consider most emblematic of Pakistan and ‘Pakistaniat’? In short, what is/are your favorite buildings in Pakistan? And, always, why?
We don’t need any rules, but a few guidelines; if I may.
- You can name any building that you want, as long as it is in Pakistan and that actually exists (sorry, Centaurus does not count; not yet!).
- It does not matter if it was built before or after 1947, as long as it still exists.
- I expect that a lot of the entries will be commemorative structures (mousuleums, monuments, etc.). That is to be expected. I woudl love to also hear about which functional buildings (hotels, office towers, bridges, etc.) you find most fascinating.
- Do please also tell us why you like a particualr building (that is much more interesting than you telling us why you do not like someone else’s choice!). If you have any interesting information about the building, do please share.
- We hope to eventually turn this into a running list of “ATP Reader’s Choice,” so please do ask your friends who are interested in such issues to also come and post their choices here.
Among the forts and palaces,
I like the boundry wall of Fort Derawar in Cholistan though its decaying very rapidly.
Noor Mahal Bahawalpur, Sadiqgarh Palace Dera Nawab Sahib (Bahawalpur Distt), Central Library Bahawalpur. The buildings in Bahawalpur State reflect the victorian architect while keeping in view the climatic conditions of the area.
I absolutely relate to what MQ has said about the Customs House. If you are driving on the (Jinnah?) flyover and glance over towards MA Jinnah Road (Bunder Road), especially at night, the scene is beautiful.
The Mohatta Palace Museum had a “Karachi under the Raj” exhibition. A poignant feature was resurrection and display of those statues that were taken down from several public places and chorahas of Karachi for reasons that we are all aware. some were simply buried in the ground. These are now on display at the museum.
Another good-looking building is that of Karachi Port Trust and Custom House. It seems to have European influence.
Among the mosques, a relatvely less known mosque, in Bhong, Rahim Yar Khan, known as Blue mosque is also an impressive building. It won the Agha Khan architectural award when it was restored in the 1980s. I have seen it. It looks impressive but a bit too busy because of its profuse ‘chitarkari’ and too many architectural influences. But it is truly a native structure, designed by a local landlord, Rais Ghazi Mohammad. (Landlords are usually not known for their architectural skills. Are they?)
Hi, I’m not sure if the Badshahi mosque is eligible but it’s probably my favorite. It’s so simple and yet so beautifully elegant especially if you look at a well-photographed night-shot.
Also, it seems like you’ve posted a picture of Quaid-e-Azam’s house in Ziarat. I visited it as a kid and do not remember much except that the surroundings are quite nice.
One thing about it that I do remember distinctly and that my family and I joke about to this day is that the Quaid’s room had a second door that led to an adjoining room where his doctor stayed…that’s understandable. However, Fatima Jinnah’s room ALSO had a second door that led to an adjoining room that was supposed to be for guests. I’m not trying to be cheap here, but just thought that the way the guide explained it was pretty funny. Okay, you can flame me now. :(