View source for Greater Iqbal Park

{{Short description|Urban park in Lahore, Pakistan}}
{{redirect|Iqbal Park|the park in Faisalabad|Dhobi Ghat Park (Faisalabad)}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox park
| image = The_mighty_Minar-e-Pakistan.jpg
| image_caption = The [[Minar-e-Pakistan]], central monument of the park
| name = Greater Iqbal Park <br />{{nobold|{{nq|گریٹر اقبال پارک}}}}
| location = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]
| map_caption = Location within Lahore
| coordinates = {{coord|31.5928|N|74.3126|E|region:PK|display=title,inline}}
| type = [[Urban park]]
| area = {{Convert|328.901|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="development">{{cite web |url=http://www.tdcp.gop.pk/tdcp/Accomodation/TDCPResortsStopovers/tabid/639/Default.aspx |title=TDCP Resorts & Stopovers |access-date=2022-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213205404/http://www.tdcp.gop.pk/tdcp/Accomodation/TDCPResortsStopovers/tabid/639/Default.aspx |archive-date=13 February 2010 |df=dmy-all|website=Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab website}}</ref>
| elevation = 
| created = {{Start date and age|1968}}
| owner = [[Parks and Horticulture Authority|Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore]]
| visitation_year = 
| open = 06:00 AM - 08:00 PM
| publictransit = [[Azadi Chowk]] [[Lahore Metrobus|Metrobus Station]]
| other_info = 
| website = https://www.pha.gop.pk/project-details-new?id=3
}}
'''Greater Iqbal Park''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]/{{langx|ur|{{nq| گریٹر اقبال پارک}}}}), formerly '''Iqbal Park'''{{efn|official name from 1947 to 2016}} and '''Minto Park''',{{efn|official name in during the [[British Raj]]}} is an [[urban park]] located on the outskirts of the [[Walled City of Lahore|Walled City]] in [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1140540/recreational-facility-greater-iqbal-park-open-public-august-14/|title=Greater Iqbal Park to open for public on August 14|date=12 July 2016|work=The Express Tribune (newspaper)|access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref>

Noted as the home of [[Minar-e-Pakistan]]'','' the 329-acre park includes an artificial lake which spreads over four acres which includes an 800-feet-long [[musical fountain]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=  Greater Iqbal Park profile|url=https://www.pha.gop.pk/project-details-new?id=3|access-date=2022-11-04|website=Parks & Horticulture Authority Lahore (PHA) website}}</ref> Other attractions includes a two-kilometre-long soft rail, a library, an open-air gym and a food court.<ref name="Dawn.com">{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-12-17 |title=Nawaz inaugurates Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, says park not for sit-ins |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1302895 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Dawn (newspaper) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Lahore |url=https://lahoredivision.punjab.gov.pk/projects-Lahore|access-date=2022-11-04|website=Lahore Division, Government of The Punjab website}}</ref> The [[tomb]]s of Iqbal and [[Hafeez Jalandhari]] are also located in the park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Sabir |date=30 April 2018 |title=A history of Greater Iqbal Park |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/310784-a-history-of-greater-iqbal-park |access-date=2021-12-30 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The grounds known as Greater Iqbal Park today were used for ceremonial military parades during the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] era. After the ascension of the [[Sikh period in Lahore|Sikhs 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, after [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto|Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound]], 1st Earl of Minto, and [[Governor-General of India]] between July 1807 and 1813.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minto Park: Witnessing Military To Political Journeys |url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/minto-park-witnessing-military-to-political-1213142.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=UrduPoint |language=en}}</ref>

After the creation of Pakistan, the park was renamed as Iqbal Park, after the poet-philosopher [[Muhammad Iqbal]], in commemoration of the [[Lahore Resolution]] of 1940. After extensive renovations were completed in December 2016, the park was given its current name.

== Renovation and expansion ==
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 the [[Minar-e-Pakistan|Minar-i-Pakistan]], the project featured expansion of the Iqbal Park by including it in the stretch of Circular Road between the park and [[Lahore Fort]].
The 125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost entirely by the [[Walled City of Lahore|old 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.
<ref>{{Cite web|title=DEVELOPMENT OF GREATER IQBAL LAHORE|url=https://www.hcs.com.pk/completed-projects-advanced-project-contractors/development-of-greater-iqbal-park-lahore/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Habib Construction Services|language=en-US}}</ref>

The new-look park was formally inaugurated on 17 December 2016.<ref name="Dawn.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2016 |title=PM inaugurates Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, says it's no place for sit-ins |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/124051-PM-inaugurates-Greater-Iqbal-Park-in-Lahore-says-its-no-place-for-sit-ins |access-date=2021-12-30 |website=Geo TV News website |language=en}}</ref>

Furthermore, the [[National History Museum (Lahore)|National History Museum]] was opened in the park in 2018. It is the first [[Virtual museum|digital 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-23|title=New museum in Lahore brings Pakistan's history to life|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1935373/new-museum-lahore-brings-pakistans-history-life|access-date=2021-12-30|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

== Features ==
The park features the following sites:<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Greater Iqbal Park (Minar e Pakistan)-Pictures, Map, Facilities|date=22 January 2016 |url=https://www.studysolutions.pk/new-greater-iqbal-park-minar-e-pakistan-pictures-map-facilities|access-date=2021-12-30|language=en-US}}</ref>

* [[Minar-e-Pakistan]]
* Tomb of [[Hafeez Jalandhari]]
* Tomb of [[Muhammad Iqbal|Allama Iqbal]]
* [[Musical fountain]]
* [[National History Museum (Lahore)|National History Museum]]
* Library
* [[Boating lake]]
* [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]]-style [[Baradari (building)|baradari]]
* Children play area
* [[Food court]]
* [[Outdoor gym|Open-air gym]]
* Walking trails
* [[Golf cart|Buggy]] track
* [[Gazebo]]s

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center" widths="140" heights="120" perrow="5">
File:The mighty Minar-e-Pakistan.jpg|[[Minar-e-Pakistan]] and its lush surroundings
File:Badshahi Mosque July 1 2005 pic32 by Ali Imran (1).jpg|[[Badshahi Mosque]] is adjacent to Iqbal Park
File:The Lahore Forts Alamgiri Gate Picture2 taken at night - July 20 2005.jpg|[[Lahore Fort]] is adjacent to Iqbal Park
File:Allama Iqbals Tomb East wall close-up July 1 2005.jpg|[[Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal]] is adjacent to Iqbal Park
File:Iqbal park lush grounds.jpg|Lush grounds of the park
File:Iqbal Park view of Badshahi Mosque.jpg|View of [[Badshahi Mosque]] from the park
File:Greater Iqbal park.jpg|Traditional [[Carriage|horse-drawn carriage]]
File:Iqbal Park (Lahore) by Damn Cruze.jpg|View from [[Lahore Fort]]
File:Iqbal Park.jpg|Entrance to [[Hafeez Jalandhari|Hafeez Jalandhari's]] tomb
File:Iqbal Park, Lahore 5.jpg|Walking trails at evening
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{commons category|Iqbal Park (Lahore)}}
* [[List of parks and gardens in Pakistan]]
* [[List of parks and gardens in Lahore]]
* [[List of parks and gardens in Karachi]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Walled City of Lahore}}{{LahoreTopics}}
[[Category:Lahore]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lahore]]
[[Category:Walled City of Lahore]]
[[Category:Memorials to Muhammad Iqbal]]
[[Category:Parks in Lahore]]
[[Category:Gardens in Pakistan]]