Highlights of the Post
Wazir Mansion
Quaid-e-Azam House
Governor’s House
Quaid-e-Azam Residency
Mazar-e-Quaid
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also known as Quaid-e-Azam, is admired by millions of Pakistanis for his endless fight and struggle against British rulers. He is the man whose hardships led to the independence of Pakistan on 14th August 1947. This blog serves as a tribute to the greatest leader of the subcontinent where we’ll list all the places that are deemed as ‘Quaid-e-Azam’s homes in Pakistan’.
Let’s begin!
Quaid-e-Azam’s Homes in Pakistan
Here are some places of Jinnah that everyone should visit. Before you pay a visit, it’s best to read about them:
- Wazir Mansion
- Quaid-e-Azam House
- Governor’s House
- Quaid-e-Azam Residency
- Mazar-e-Quaid
Note: These houses listed in this blog follow a sequential order – from their birth to their death.
Wazir Mansion – Jinnah’s Birthplace
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on 25th December 1876 in Karachi. Wazir Mansion is deemed as his birthplace, which is situated in Kharadar – one of the oldest human settlements in the city of lights.
Jinnah’s family migrated from Gujrat [in India] and he spent 16 years of his youth at Wazir Mansion, but he relocated to England to pursue higher studies. Soon after his relocation, his parents moved back to Gujrat.
It is believed that the house was sold after Fatima Jinnah’s birth. However, the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Museums restored the site along with the artefacts and declared it as a national landmark.
Some noteworthy things about this place are mentioned below:
- Wazir Mansion was built during the mid 19th century and its lime-coloured exterior is the most note-worthy feature of the place.
- It serves as a museum and it is titled as ‘Quaid-e-Azam Birthplace Museum’ since it is home to Jinnah’s personal belongings – from books, furniture, couches to bed sets, daily use commodities, and other artefacts.
- Quaid-e-Azam Birthplace Museum boasts a reading sanctuary on the ground floor. It has a huge collection of books of different genres. You can also find a good collection of Jinnah’s biographies as well.
Wazir Mansion Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Ticket Prices in PKR: Entrance is free for all
Quaid-e-Azam House
Quaid-e-Azam House is the second place in our list of Quaid-e-Azam’s homes in Pakistan. Located near Frere Hall in Karachi Cantonment, it is alternatively known as Flagstaff House and Museum.
Jinnah lived in this house till 1943. His sister Fatima Jinnah, however, most of her time in this place and lived there till 1964, even after the death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. After he passed away, the house was taken over by the Government of Pakistan and it was converted into a national heritage and museum.
The exterior of Flagstaff Museum is covered in yellowstone and you can spot limestone on the roof while red ceramic slates protect it from the heat of the sun. The gardens have been renovated to make them look scenic.
Upon entering the museum, you will find historical collections of a pre-partition era and a collection of Jinnah’s personal belongings such as lamps, crockery, furniture, cigars, and clothes. Some noteworthy features include:
- It has a study room with chairs and reading tables, along with important stationery.
- Everything [from crockery to books] are displayed neatly on wooden shelves.
- The House Museum has eighteen privies, four garages, three guard houses, and a kitchen.
The Government of Pakistan took full responsibility to look after the Flagstaff House and Museum. They made the whole house air-conditioned, preserved the items, placed surveillance, and emergency alarms. The automobiles used by Muhammad Ali Jinnah are on the exhibition.
Quaid-e-Azam House Timings: 9 am to 4 pm
Ticket Prices in PKR: Adult – 20 | Children (From 6 to 12 Years of Age) – 10 | Foreigner – 300
Governor’s House at Aiwan-e-Saddar Road
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah served as a first governor general of Pakistan after the independence and lived in the Governor’s house till 1948. The house is situated on Aiwan-e-Sadar Road in Civil Lines, Karachi. It was constructed during the British-Raj in 1843.
Governor’s House Timings: 6 am to 9 am (Mon-Sat) | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm (Sun)
Ticket Prices in PKR: N/A
Quaid-e-Azam Residency in Ziarat
Those who live in Quetta and want to celebrate Quaid-e-Azam Day can visit Ziarat Residency. Jinnah spent his last years in that splendid place while exploring the hidden beauty of Pakistan.
The house comprises a wooden structure that was built during the British Rule in 1892 and became a national monument. This region of Ziarat is surrounded by Juniper forests and offers scenic beauty. It is a dream house for those who wish to live near the woods.
Jinnah stayed there as his health deteriorated and passed away on the 11th of September 1948. The property still belongs to Jinnah. In order to explore more about the place, check out our recent blog on tour to Ziarat.
The building has faced some damages due to natural calamities. Fortunately, all the artefacts, belongings, and photographs inside the house are well-preserved.
Mazar-e-Quaid
Last on our list of Quaid-e-Azam’s homes in Pakistan is ‘Mazar-e-Quaid’ – the final resting place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The Tomb of Quaid-e-Azam, Jinnah Mausoleum, and Mazar-e-Quaid are the titles of the same place that serves as the final resting place of the father of the nation. As mentioned earlier, Jinnah died soon after the independence of Pakistan in 1948. After his death, the government built the Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fund (QMF). Their main purpose was to keep the memorial place renovated and look after it. The Government of Pakistan decided that the tomb will be built on the highest point in Karachi.
The main responsibility of the department was to initiate the planning of a memorial that reflected the founder’s personality. To begin the process, an international contest was held in 1957 and many renowned architects participated and submitted their designs. The sister of Quaid-e-Azam, Mader-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah vetoed the designs and assigned Yahya Merchant [an architect based in Bombay] the designing and planning work.
Before planning a visit to the tomb, note down the timings to avoid any hassle:
Mazar-e-Quaid Timings: (Fri-Tues) 10:00 am to 5:30 pm | (Wed to Thurs) – 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Ticket Prices in PKR: 10
Note: Don’t forget to keep your CNIC while visiting since some of these places require you to deposit it at the door. You can collect it upon your return.
This was our post on Quaid-e-Azam day 2020 which is declared as a public holiday across Pakistan. For more knowledge, ideas, and information, keep checking JagahOnline Blogs. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page.
