BAGH-E-JINNAH (JINNAH GARDEN) ; NATURE AT ITS BEST

 Bagh-e- Jinnah is one of the most famous and oldest Public Park of Pakistan. It is situated in the city of Lahore, which is also Pakistan’s cultural capital. Some people call it heaven on earth while others describe it as a haven of nature with all its beauty, serenity and pollution free environment. It isa place to refresh your soul, enrich and energize your mind and body and enjoy the life as it should be. Be it the secluded and nostalgic environment of the hill or the green and expanding lawns, one feels submerged in nature and wishes to remain part of this wonderful place and continue to purify one's soul.

 According to the well-known  Punjabi saying, "One who has not visited Lahore is not even  born yet", it looks proper to add that one who has not visited Bag-e-Jinnah has not seen Lahore.

  There is a  a large number of trees of different varieties, ages and sizes.  Be it a Gab or a Ficus, Delonix, Buddha, Sterculia, Kamila, Putranjiva, Dalbergia or Erythrina, they are there showing their distinct identity  and helping out  in combating the greenhouse effect, providing clean air and oxygen and lowering down the temperature in summer. On the other hand they also attract wildlife by supporting habitat and providing an ideal environment for their growth and making this Park a place of beauty in diversity.

Flowers of different variety grace this Park in all the seasons producing colors and fragrance that makes the whole environment a great scene to look and enjoy. They not only have a soothing effect on the eyes, but flowers lift up spirits by their beauty and color. 
Different species of birds with different colors and sizes have made the Park their permanent abode. All in all there is a general belief that there is no other place like Bagh-e-Jinnah if one wants to meet nature at its best. Those who  visit it daily are greatly in love with this great masterpiece of nature managed by humans and refuse to visit any other Public Park despite presence of many Public Parks in Lahore. 

To know more about this beautiful place we are publishing an interview with MR. Shahid Iqbal who is Project Director of Bagh-e-Jinnah so that we have a complete picture of this great place of recreation.

Q. Bagh-e- Jinnah is one of Pakistan’s oldest and well known public Park, would you enlighten us about its history and development.

SI. This Park was established in 1862 and was named after the ‘Lord’ Sir John Lawrence. After independence the Garden was attributed to the founder of Pakistan and was called Bagh-e-Jinnah or the Jinnah Garden. The main purpose of the Garden was to collect the plant material and conserve it or to establish a germplasm bank of plants. It was designed on the pattern of Kew Garden of England. Initially it was spread over an area of 176 acres, however, later twenty one acres was transferred to zoo that was established in 1883 and fourteen acres to Government College Botanical Garden.

  As generally believed it is not simply a recreational public park. It is a great source of research for better understanding of the botanical nomenclature, inter-relation of different species and families of the plants, system of their classification of each and every species and their identification, as a good number of indigenous and exotic plants have been grown in the Park. It has about 6000 trees and shrubs of Botanical importance. It is unique type of Garden in Asia with such a high botanical value.

Bagh-e-Jinnah comprises of 141 acres including Offices, Roads, Libraries, Clubs and Restaurant about 100 acres of land is under ornamental plants & amp; recreational park.

 Q. What are the main functions of this Public Park.

SI. Bagh-E-Jinnah is performing following functions:

It is a botanical garden & amp; provides recreational facilities to the citizens of Lahore and national and international visitors. It provides practical training facilities to the students of various courses, held at Floriculture and Landscaping Training Center and also to the students of various institutes.

There is great collection of different species of Plants, Trees, Shrubs and Creepers, which provides identification facility to the students of Botany. Some of the trees are more than 150 year old and a great source of study and observation to the students and researchers of botany. 

Bag-e-Jinnah also participates in different exhibitions held during whole of the year.

Having a large number of trees it helps in controlling pollution and  keeping the environment safe and pure. It attracts a large number of visitors and provide them relief, relaxation, enjoyment and entertainment. In summer the number of visitor reaches a very high level in the evenings and at night as they want to rebuild their energies after having to go through scorching heat of summer days.

Q. Tell us about the services being provided.

SI.  Bagh-E-Jinnah is providing many services to the people in general as well as specific group of people keeping in view their divergent interests ranging from sports, education, recreation and entertainment. People of all walks of life are taking full advantage of these services. Following are the specific services we are providing and managing.

 Cricket Ground

It is a very old cricket ground  and played host to friendly matches, competitive fixtures and Pakistan's first unofficial Test against the West Indies was played here in 1948. A few more unofficial Tests later, Bagh-e-Jinnah became a Test venue when Pakistan took on India in 1954–55, New Zealand and West Indies. It continued as a Test venue until construction of Gaddafi Cricket ground.

  QUAID-E-AZAM LIBRARY

The Quaid-e-Azam Library has a collection of more than 100,000 volumes, both in English and Oriental languages (Urdu, Arabic & Persian). Standard books on literature, science, history, reference works, periodicals and literature for ladies and children have been acquired. The library is divided into various sections dealing with English, Islamiyat, Urdu, Arabic, rare books etc. Latest books on management, business administration, technology and social sciences are being continuously acquired. 
                                                          
    DAR-US-SALAM LIBRARY /MOSQUE

Idara Dar-us-Salam is a charitable organization consisting of a beautiful mosque, a library and a restaurant located in the scenic setting of Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore. It was founded by Colonel Salamat Ullah.  

Regular prayers including Jumma and Eid prayers are held at this beautiful mosque located in the center of the Park.










COSMOPOLITAN CLUB

The COSMOPOLITAN CLUB, LAHORE’ was established in 1927 in Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore with its building & amp; amp; Play grounds,etc, constructed On approximately four (4) acres of land owned by the Government of the Punjab and leased out in its favor and has been continuously functioning as such since then. 

  LAHORE LADIES CLUB           

This club provides facilities for ladies in the areas of health and recreation and has become a hub of different activities for them all the year.






  RESTAURANTS

In addition we have Jogging Track, Lawn Tennis Courts and Children Amusement facilities.
Q. What are the main areas of responsibility of the Park Management.

SI. We are always striving to provide the best environment for people to enjoy, relax and rejuvenate  themselves in all seasons and get maximum comfort.
The Park Management has following areas of responsibility:

— Upkeep/ maintenance  in the best possible manner and to make it attractive for general public

—   Preservation of existing flora

—   Introduction of new species

—   Arrangement of  internship programs for students

—   Rejuvenation of old trees

—   Facilitation of educational trips for students.

—   Provision of seeds/plants to other institution of Pakistan

—   Advisory services

—  Arrangement of  annual spring flower show

—   Management of local and international delegations

—   Proper training and pruning of the trees

Q. Please enlighten us about your future plans.

SI. Following are our future plans:

—  Creation of herbarium.

—  Introduction of maximum number of flowers and flowering   plants in garden.

—  Introduction of exotic plants.

—  Improvement of nursery.

—  Creation of children amusements.

Q. Bagh-e- Jinnah is a big park, how many employees do you have?

SI. At present 300 employees are working for the management and maintenance of the Park.

Q. Bagh-e- Jinnah is a valuable treasure of trees, would you describe for us the salient features of this great treasure.

SI. The park has a treasure Trove of rare species of trees and birds. In total we have 411 varieties of plants out of which 163 are rare species with the following details:
There are 187 trees out of
which 49 are rare species. There are 117 shrubs with 49 are rare species. Similarly total number of Climbers is 35 out of which 17 are rare species. Palm and Cycads number 72 with 47 belonging to rare species.

Q. We have seen a large number of birds of different kinds that has made Bagh-E-Jinnah its permanent home, tell us about this great collection.

SI. We are really proud to have such a variety of birds that has made Bagh-e-Jinnah it’s  abode living here generation after generation. This has added sound and color to the environment. These birds feel so comfortable in the  environment that they move about in the presence of humans without fear.  

These birds include Sparrow Hawk,  Common Grey  HornBill, Large Pied Wagtail,  Grey Shrike,
Jungle Babbler, Spotted Owl, Guinea Fowl, Munia, Rufous Treepie, Green Pigeon, Tailor Bird, Golden Backed Woodpecker,Blue

Jay, Ring Necked Dove, Cuckoo, Peacock, Turtle  Dove, Rock Dove, Squacco Heron, Starling, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Mapie, Hoopoe, Little Green Bee Eater, Black Kite, Red Vented Bulbul, Rose-Ringed
 Parakeet, Common Myna, White-Brested Kingfisher, Purple SunBird, Bank Myna, Common duck, House Crow and many more.

 

                         

               

Mr Shahid Iqbal is working as Project Director Of Bagh-E-Jinnah since 29-06-2009. He has done Msc. (Hons.) Agriculture and his field of specialization is Pomology and Floriculture. He has more than thirteen years of experience having worked as  Cotton Inspector,  Horticulturist and Assistant  Professor. He has been involved in development and execution of landscape projects, development and maintenance of Public Parks under Municipality, delivering lectures to the undergraduate and postgradute classes and service extensions.